State security photos of Hungarian demonstrations (1989)

Numerous demonstrations were organized in 1989 in Budapest. Nine of the demonstrations are documented in the Historical Archives of the Hungarian State Security (Állambiztonsági Szolgálatok Történeti Levéltára – ÁBTL). As of January 1989, however, the freedom of assembly was guaranteed by law. The secret police observed and recorded the events by following their earlier reflexes, and they focused on identifying the participants and the banners. The photo collection of street demonstrations is the visual imprint of the actions which were organized by the different civil, artistic, and activist groups and a good source on the ambivalent behavior of the political police in the transitional period before the collapse of the communist system.

1989年，布达佩斯举办了众多示威活动。其中九次活动在匈牙利国家安全历史档案馆（Állambiztonsági Szolgálatok Történeti Levéltára – ÁBTL）有所记录。然而，至1989年1月，集会自由已由法律保障。秘密警察遵循先前的本能反应，对事件进行观察和记录，其重点在于识别参与者及旗帜。街头示威的摄影集是不同民间、艺术及活动团体组织行动的视觉印记，同时也是研究转型期（共产主义体系崩溃前夕）政治警察矛盾行为的重要资料来源。