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Bela Biszku, Hungarian Official Tried in 1956 Uprising, Dies at 94 Bela Biszku, Hungarian Official Tried in 1956 Uprising, Dies at 94
(35 minutes later)
Bela Biszku, the only high-ranking Communist-era official to be tried for his role in the repression that came after the 1956 Hungarian uprising against Soviet rule, died on Thursday in Budapest. He was 94.Bela Biszku, the only high-ranking Communist-era official to be tried for his role in the repression that came after the 1956 Hungarian uprising against Soviet rule, died on Thursday in Budapest. He was 94.
His death was confirmed by the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Religious Communities. His death was confirmed by the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities.
Mr. Biszku was part of the Communist Party’s ruling interim executive committee after the October 1956 uprising was crushed by Soviet forces. The committee created militias to carry out the repression. Mr. Biszku was part of the Communist Party’s ruling interim executive committee after Soviet forces crushed the October 1956 uprising. The committee created militias to carry out the repression.
Mr. Biszku, who also served as Hungary’s interior minister from March 1957 to September 1961, denied any involvement. But in 2014, he was sentenced to five years and six months in prison after being convicted of war crimes and other charges, including his role in nearly 50 deaths.Mr. Biszku, who also served as Hungary’s interior minister from March 1957 to September 1961, denied any involvement. But in 2014, he was sentenced to five years and six months in prison after being convicted of war crimes and other charges, including his role in nearly 50 deaths.
A higher court voided the verdict and ordered a retrial, which concluded in December with Mr. Biszku receiving a suspended sentence on lesser charges, including the denial of crimes committed by the Communist government. The conviction was under appeal at his death. A higher court voided the verdict and ordered a retrial, which concluded in December with a suspended sentence on lesser charges, including the denial of crimes committed by the Communist government. The conviction was under appeal at Mr. Biszku’s death.
Historians have long considered Mr. Biszku one of the main architects of the repression that came after the 1956 uprising, in which at least 225 people were executed and more than 10,000 imprisoned. Historians have long considered Mr. Biszku one of the main architects of the repression that came after the uprising, in which at least 225 people were executed and more than 10,000 imprisoned. In voiding his initial conviction, however, the Budapest Appeals Court said there were “essential and substantive differences between establishing historical responsibility and criminal responsibility.”
In voiding his initial conviction, however, the Budapest Appeals Court said there were “essential and substantive differences between establishing historical responsibility and criminal responsibility.”
Mr. Biszku was born on Sept. 13, 1921, in the eastern Hungarian village of Marok, now called Marokpapi.Mr. Biszku was born on Sept. 13, 1921, in the eastern Hungarian village of Marok, now called Marokpapi.