Identity Statement

Reference Code

HU OSA 408-3

Title

Research Documentation relating to the Hungarian State Security Services

Date(s)

1945 - 2006

Description Level

Subfonds

Extent and medium (processed)

28 Archival boxes, 3.5 linear meters

Context

Archival history

The Secrecy Act passed in 1995 set two deadlines for reviewing records created before the formation of the first, freely-elected Hungarian government (May 2, 1990): one year for records created before 1980 and five for later records. The second deadline has been prolonged several times by the Parliament. Failing to do the reviewing, secrecy was automatically removed. Owing to this, several secret documents created before 1980 became theoretically open, if no other criteria of secrecy were present. In practice, however, the persons responsible for the management of classified information have attempted several times to re-qualify documents to maintain secrecy. The original place of preservation of the documents is the Historical Archives of the Hungarian State Security (ÁBTL), Budapest City Archives (BFL), and National Archives of Hungary (MNL).

Content and Structure

Scope and Content (Abstract)

The subfonds consists of the documents of László Varga’s research activities of over 15 years.

The subfonds includes internal regulations and party resolutions concerning state security, and records pertaining to the organization. Documents of various types of registries, statistics, review of the registries, the various types of files and documents of the standardized records keeping system of Socialist countries (System of Joint Acquisition of Enemy Data, SOUD), of folders of objects and topics destroyed during the regime change, and the computerized data system belong to several series.

One series is dedicated to the history of records keeping, the various records centers of the state security organs, the rules of handling files and of secret file management, transfer of files, selection of documents for destruction.

The largest series of the subfonds includes documents of secret police investigations and of political trials.

The last series consists of documents related to the regime change, such as the chronology of 1988 and 1989 compiled by the state security services, documents concerning oppositional and alternative organizations, and important events (celebrations), the re-organization of the state security service to make its way in the new regime.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

The objective of the research was to open up state security documents and registries as much as possible. Furthermore, specific cases were almost fully documented. During processing no records were destroyed.

Accruals

Not Expected

Conditions of Access and Use

Conditions governing access

The general rules of research in OSA Research Room apply.

Conditions governing reproduction

A dokumentumok oktatási és kutatási célból digitálisan másolhatók az OSA kutatótermében.

Description Control

Archivist's note

Processed by László Varga and Örs Lehel Tari, March 24, 2015.