Hungarians mark anniversary of 1956 event

Women visit the grave of Imre Nagy, prime minister during the revolution, in a cemetery on national holiday commemorating the revolution of 1956 in Budapest, Hungary on Oct. 23, 2014. Hungarians marked Thursday with a series of events remembering the failed 1956 revolution that began on Oct. 23, exactly 58 years ago. (Xinhua/Attila Volgyi)

BUDAPEST, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Hungarians marked Thursday with a series of events remembering the failed 1956 revolution that began on Oct. 23, exactly 58 years ago.

The commemorations included gatherings at all the sites where events of the revolution had taken place including Hungarian Radio, which opened its doors to visitors, Szena (Haymarket) Square which was a scene of heavy fighting, and the Corvin Movie, a revolutionary stronghold.

President Janos Ader and many other dignitaries visited the cemetery where Imre Nagy, prime minister during the revolution, was buried.

National Economy Minister Mihaly Varga addressed a gathering at the Szena Square memorial, where he reminded listeners of the significance of that revolution despite its failure. It showed the world the inhuman and corrupt nature of the regime, he said.

In the evening Ader addressed the audience at a gala performance at the Hungarian State Opera House. 1956 proves that it is worth sacrificing and standing up for moral values, he said.

Cold and windy weather reduced attendance at all events, including those organized by various opposition parties.

The uprising began spontaneously with people like author and writers' union chief Peter Veres calling for democracy and land reform and drawing a crowd of 20,000, with a demonstration outside Parliament swelling crowds to 200,000, and with a demand that a proclamation be read over the radio drawing first blood as State Security Police fired on the demonstrators.

The uprising was crushed by Soviet troops. About 2,500 Hungarians were killed and 200,000 fled the country as refugees. Imre Nagy was executed in 1958 after a secret trial.