Hungary to publish communist-era informant records

Politics · First reported 2 Nov, 07:09 · Updated 07:43

Image: Wikimedia Commons · NASA Johnson Space Center · Public domain

Hungary’s government is preparing to make communist-era state-security informant records publicly searchable, after decades of restricted access. The release is intended to open a difficult chapter of the country’s history, but the records are incomplete and some detailed files will be published later with personal information redacted.

The files concern informants used by Hungary’s state-security services between 1945 and 1989; the new database is intended to make records searchable online.
Historians estimate that 50,000 to 60,000 people are named, while detailed files are available for about 9,000; those records are planned for release in February after redactions.
The coverage describes the release both as an effort to confront the past and, for supporters, as ending decades of secrecy. [7c7ce322-90c9-4c37-853d-332100392721

Summary written by Lux AI from 2 articles

Key facts

Period covered: 1945–1989
People named: Historians estimate 50,000–60,000
Detailed files: About 9,000 people have detailed files; their release is planned for February
Redactions: Personal information and information about victims will be redacted