Hungarians declassify state security archives from the communist era, fulfilling the promise of the new prime minister

Seznam ZprávyIndependentCenter10 hr. ago

The Hungarian parliament has passed a law to declassify documents related to the activities of security agencies under the communist regime and to establish a historical archive for these materials. The law was approved by 180 lawmakers with no opposition, though eight members abstained. It creates an advisory committee tasked with reviewing and publishing previously classified documents, involving experts and representatives from security services and civil society. The initiative follows Prime Minister Péter Márger’s announcement after his party’s victory in April elections that he plans to open communist-era archives by October, commemorating the 1956 anti-communist uprising suppressed by Soviet troops. While some information has already been released, much remains hidden. The new law aims to make more documents accessible online, except those deemed harmful to national security or personal data such as health records or sexual orientation. In the Czech Republic, similar efforts are managed by the Archive of Security Agencies, established in 2008 and linked to the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes.

Bias read (Center): The article presents the legislative action objectively, describing the law's provisions, the approval process, and the context behind it without overtly favoring any political side. It includes quotes from official sources and provides balanced background on Hungary's approach compared to other ex-

Aktuálně.czIndependentCenter11 hr. ago

The Czech news outlet Aktuálně.cz reports on a new law in Hungary that establishes a consultative committee to review and publish previously classified documents from the country's communist-era state security archives. The legislation aims to involve the public, particularly experts, in the process, with the committee consisting of 13 members including representatives from security agencies and experts. Opposition representation is included through two experts. The law allows for the disclosure of information about the activities of the state security services, their collaborators, and agents among Hungarian citizens, though certain data related to national security and personal health, addiction, and sexual orientation will remain confidential. The most significant documents are expected to be released around the anniversary of the 1956 anti-communist uprising. In contrast to other former communist countries, Hungary did not conduct post-revolutionary purges, according to Russian agency TASS. The article notes that while some information has already been disclosed, much remains classified. The Czech Archiv of Security Services manages and provides access to documents from the era

Bias read (Center): The article presents the legislative initiative and its implications neutrally, outlining both the scope of the proposed disclosures and the exceptions. It references the historical context without overt ideological slant, mentions the involvement of opposition experts, and includes quotes from a俄罗斯