Hungarian Principal of Minority School in Ukraine Reinstated after Winning Lawsuit

István Schink has been reinstated as principal of Francis II Rákóczi High School in Mukachevo (Munkács). The news was announced on the school’s Facebook page.

In January of this year, in a wave of anti-Hungarian actions in Ukraine, the Ukrainian police removed Hungarian flags from several public institutions based on a decree, and István Schink, principal of Francis II Rákóczi High School in Mukachevo (Munkács), was dismissed overnight without explanation. Before this measure, the city council had already dismissed him two times. Unlike Schink, the new principal had no ties to either the Hungarian minority community or the school.

Mandiner recalls that the Ukrainian principal who replaced Schink wanted to “Ukrainianize” the Hungarian minority school. The plan was to teach Hungarian as a foreign language, to introduce a Ukrainian first grade, and to teach some subjects only in Ukrainian. The Hungarian anthem was banned at the opening of the school year, and the use of the Hungarian flag and national colors was forbidden.

However, Schink has won the case at third instance: the court ruled that he was unlawfully dismissed and will be reinstated as principal. “Once again István Schink is the principal of the Francis II Rákóczi High School in Mukachevo! After three lawsuits won, the Mukachevo inspector has finally reinstated our principal,” the post reads.

Via Mandiner, Featured image: Facebook/Munkácsi II. Rákóczi Ferenc Középiskola