Hungary releases secret police files from the communist era

Hungary has released files from the secret police of its communist era, the country's Culture Minister Zoltán Tarr said. The publication touches on politically prominent people, including former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who had long been the subject of rumors about ties to the secret police.

The minister's stance

Tarr said he hoped the publication would enable long-term reconciliation by revealing the secrets of the past. His own father is mentioned in the files, but the minister received official confirmation that his father was never an agent.

Orbán's response

In a Facebook statement on Tuesday, Orbán said he refused any cooperation when he was approached at the beginning of his mandatory military service. He said that he, his wife and colleagues were instead under constant surveillance and were targets of the state party's secret investigations.

What comes next

Further files are currently being digitized. They are to be made available by Feb. 25 next year and will detail the network's recruitment process.