The incident raised deep concern among the Vietnamese community in Ukraine as it occurred on the threshold of the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet), the most important festival for Vietnamese, Tri stressed.
All the Vietnamese families that had money seized in this case, are legally residing and working in Ukraine, he stated, adding that the Vietnamese State and the embassy always educate overseas Vietnamese in Ukraine in general, and in Odessa in particular, to strictly abide by the host’s law.
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| Vietnamese Ambassador to Ukraine Nguyen Minh Tri (L) at a working session related to the case |
A representative from SBU said the agency has been collecting documents and evidence relating to the incident, and is committed to coordinating with the Vietnamese Embassy to address the case, to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese nationals.
SBU pledged to carry out careful examination of the origin and legal basis of the money seized in the incident, and said the money will be returned to its owners if no criminal activity is detected.
The agency also requested relevant Vietnamese citizens to provide information and submit their complaints to Ukraine’s relevant agencies.
Ukraine authorities raided a Vietnamese quarter called Lang Sen (Lotus Village) in Odessa city on January 28, arresting one Vietnamese national and collecting money from several Vietnamese families.
