Hungary publishes communist-era secret police records online
Conflict · First reported 4 Nov, 10:42 · Updated 11:13
Hungary has opened a searchable public database of communist-era state security records, including names of thousands of informants. The government says another batch of files is expected by February, while officials warn that the disclosures may be difficult for families.
- Hungary published communist-era secret police records in an online database, giving the public access to information about the informer network used to monitor citizens.
- Prime Minister Péter Magyar said about 60,000 names were made public and a second batch of files is expected by February.
- Archives estimate that authorities recruited about 150,000 informants, but records for roughly two-thirds no longer exist.
Summary written by Lux AI from 2 articles
Key facts
- Database
- Searchable online records were made public on Wednesday.
- Names published
- Magyar said about 60,000 names were included.
- Next release
- A second batch is expected by February.
- Informant estimates
- Archives estimate about 150,000 people were recruited; records for roughly two-thirds no longer exist.
- One-party rule
- Hungary was under communist one-party rule from 1949 to 1989.
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Background
- An earlier report said Hungary was preparing to make communist-era informant records publicly searchable after decades of restricted access. [397e7a02-ec05-4271-ae49-0b82a428d328]
- That report noted the records were incomplete and that some detailed files would be published later with personal information redacted. [397e7a02-ec05-4271-ae49-0b82a428d328]
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