An anti-Hungarian, violent act occurred yesterday in Sâncrăieni (Csíkszentkirály), where supporters
of the Bucharest football team, Steaua, tore off and desecrated the Székely flag placed at the Turul
statue in the village.
“This is not just damage to an object but an attack on our community’s identity, history, and
cohesion. For us, the Székely flag is more than a banner—it symbolizes our identity, history, and
unity. These provocations aim to undermine the foundations of our community, which we cannot
tolerate.” — stated a community leader about the incident on the village’s Facebook page.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated event. Just a few days ago, in Cluj-Napoca (Kolozsvár), a child
speaking Hungarian was beaten by football fans, once again highlighting that members of minority
communities increasingly become targets. Violence and symbolic attacks, like the removal of the
flag, not only harm local communities but also undermine the fundamental values of social
coexistence.
We demand the authorities to act immediately in this matter and hold the perpetrators accountable.
We must stand together against violence and provocations to preserve our community’s cohesion
and the respect that is a core value for all of us.
Erika Benkő, director of the Mikó Imre MInority Rights Service, emphasized again: “We strongly
call on the authorities to hold the perpetrators, who have already been identified, strictly and
exemplarily accountable. In light of the recent surge in individual anti-Hungarian attacks, one
could even say this has now become a phenomenon. Therefore, it is crucial for the state to act firmly
and make it clear that no form of ethnically motivated violence will be tolerated.”
Cases related to the Úz Valley Military Cemetery closed due to statute of limitations
The Bacău Court of Appeal dismissed the criminal case concerning the brawl and vandalism in the
Úz Valley cemetery, citing the statute of limitations. The two defendants, Marius-Constantin Siderof
and Valentin Diaconu, thus escaped punishment. Last October, the Moinești Court convicted them:
Siderof was fined 2,000 lei, while Diaconu was sentenced to one year and two months of suspended
imprisonment and 60 days of community service. Additionally, both defendants were ordered to pay
1,500 euros in damages and 2,250 lei in legal fees to the civil plaintiff, Csaba Kovács.
However, the Bacău Court of Appeal annulled the criminal penalties due to the statute of limitations
but upheld the decision on compensation and legal costs.
Erika Benkő, head of the Mikó Imre Minority Rights Service, stated in response to the news: “The
behavior of the Romanian authorities shows that they have no intention of holding perpetrators
accountable in anti-Hungarian cases. This attitude strengthens the perception that there is no rule
of law in Romania. The authorities’ passivity and rejection raise serious concerns about the
functioning of the judiciary. I firmly believe that the authorities’ indifference or deliberate neglect of
these cases has caused significant harm to interethnic relations. The state’s responsibility is to
protect all its citizens and handle every case with appropriate rigor. However, we consistently see a
double standard applied in Hungarian matters.”
“Stop Hurting Hungarians!” — Demonstration against ethnically motivated hatred
The situation has become so alarming for the Hungarian community that Sándor Tamás, president
of Covasna County Council, has called for a solidarity protest on Saturday at 5:00 PM in the main
square of Târgu Secuiesc (Kézdivásárhely). The aim is for Hungarians to collectively protest against
the phenomenon of violent anti-Hungarian attacks.