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Bela Biszku, communist-era official in Hungary tried for war crimes, dies at 94 Bela Biszku, communist-era official in Hungary tried for war crimes, dies at 94
(2 days later)
Bela Biszku, the only high-ranking communist-era official to be tried for his role in the repression after the 1956 Hungarian revolution, died March 31 at a Jewish hospital in Budapest. He was 94. Bela Biszku, the only high-ranking communist-era official to be tried for his role in the repression after the 1956 Hungarian revolution, died March 31 at a Jewish hospital in Budapest. He was 94.
The Federation of Hungarian Jewish Religious Communities confirmed the death but did not disclose the cause.The Federation of Hungarian Jewish Religious Communities confirmed the death but did not disclose the cause.
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 armed militias to carry out the repression, killing dozens. 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 armed militias to carry out the repression, killing dozens.
Mr. Biszku, who also served as interior minister between March 1957 and September 1961, denied any involvement but was sentenced in 2014 to five years and six months in prison for war crimes and other charges, including his role in nearly 50 deaths. Mr. Biszku, who also served as interior minister from March 1957 to September 1961, denied any involvement but was sentenced in 2014 to five years and six months in prison for 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 given a suspended sentence on lesser charges, including the denial of crimes committed by the communist regime. The conviction was under appeal at the time of his death. A higher court voided the verdict and ordered a retrial, which concluded in December with Mr. Biszku given a suspended sentence on lesser ­charges, including the denial of crimes committed by the communist regime. The conviction was under appeal at the time of his death.
Historians long considered Mr. Biszku one of the main architects of the repression that followed the 1956 uprising when at least 225 people were executed and more than 10,000 imprisoned for their real or alleged role in the revolt.Historians long considered Mr. Biszku one of the main architects of the repression that followed the 1956 uprising when at least 225 people were executed and more than 10,000 imprisoned for their real or alleged role in the revolt.
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 Sept. 13, 1921, in the eastern Hungarian village of Marok, now called Marokpapi.Mr. Biszku was born Sept. 13, 1921, in the eastern Hungarian village of Marok, now called Marokpapi.
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