01:28Hungary: First refugees 'guilty' of crossing Serbian border to be expelled
The first refugees were prosecuted for "illegal" border crossing at Hungary's Szeged County court, Wednesday, following Budapest's decision to close its border with Serbia, enforcing punishments on refugees trying to enter the country.
Some nine Syrian and Iraqi refugees faced trial, the court ruling all cases that they would be expelled from Hungary following a period in detention. Several of the detainees will also have to pay an equivalent of over $68 (€60), according to the country's Magyar Tavirati Iroda agency.
Refugees crossing into the EU by Hungary's border fence without documentation, or those caught "damaging or hindering the construction" of the razor-wire barrier will now be criminally charged under Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's new legislation's.
The Hungarian government decided to officially close their border with Serbia on Tuesday. Officials have increased the military presence at the frontier, deploying soldiers and installing a razor-wire fence. Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Monday told Hungary's TV2 station that a state of emergency was "likely" to be introduced in the border area.
01:28The first refugees were prosecuted for "illegal" border crossing at Hungary's Szeged County court, Wednesday, following Budapest's decision to close its border with Serbia, enforcing punishments on refugees trying to enter the country.
Some nine Syrian and Iraqi refugees faced trial, the court ruling all cases that they would be expelled from Hungary following a period in detention. Several of the detainees will also have to pay an equivalent of over $68 (€60), according to the country's Magyar Tavirati Iroda agency.
Refugees crossing into the EU by Hungary's border fence without documentation, or those caught "damaging or hindering the construction" of the razor-wire barrier will now be criminally charged under Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's new legislation's.
The Hungarian government decided to officially close their border with Serbia on Tuesday. Officials have increased the military presence at the frontier, deploying soldiers and installing a razor-wire fence. Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Monday told Hungary's TV2 station that a state of emergency was "likely" to be introduced in the border area.