Hungary Releases Communist Secret Police Informant Names
Prime Minister Péter Magyar is releasing the names of up to 60,000 communist-era informants via an online database to coincide with the 1956 revolution anniversary.
The Government of Hungary is releasing the names of an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 communist-era secret police informants on November 4, 2026. The disclosure coincides with the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Soviet crackdown on the Hungarian Revolution. This initiative fulfills a campaign promise made by Prime Minister Péter Magyar and his TISZA party prior to their victory in the April 2026 elections.
The release will be managed by the Historical Archive of State Security Services through a searchable online database. The initial phase includes the H database, containing records of agents and recruitment candidates. A second phase is scheduled for February 25, 2027, to release 9,000 complete files after redactions for privacy. The government noted that inclusion in the database does not automatically prove voluntary collaboration, as records include recruitment targets, and information risking the security of Hungary, the European Union, or NATO will remain confidential.
Prime Minister Magyar stated the move is intended to help victims of surveillance heal and allow the nation to confront its past. This transparency effort occurs as the Magyar administration simultaneously investigates alleged corruption and abuses of power from the 16-year tenure of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose administration is accused of failing to open the archives.
