Hungary marks 70 years since Soviet crushing of 1956 uprising

Ceremonies in Budapest, Hungary's capital, marked the 70th anniversary of the 1956 uprising against Soviet rule. Prime Minister Péter Magyar attended a flag-raising ceremony outside parliament on Lajos Kossuth Square, then laid flowers at memorials and graves. Among them was the grave of Imre Nagy, the former prime minister who was executed after the revolution.

The uprising began on 23 October 1956 and lasted 15 days. Soviet troops and tanks then crushed the revolt, killing up to 3,000 revolutionaries.

European leaders attend

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also joined the commemorations. She addressed Hungarian lawmakers in a special parliamentary session, which European Council President António Costa attended. Von der Leyen praised the courage of Hungarians who fought for freedom, democracy and justice, and drew parallels with the country's recent political transition after Viktor Orbán left power.

Frozen EU funds

Her visit comes as Budapest tries to secure the release of billions of euros in frozen EU funding. The money has been withheld over concerns about the rule of law and corruption. Brussels says further reforms are needed before the funds can be unlocked, which is a key challenge for Magyar's new government.