Kádár grave robbery investigation leads outside Budapest

The investigation into the desecration of the tomb of communist-era leader János Kádár and the urn containing the ashes of his wife Mária are leading toward extremist groups outside Budapest, Népszabadság reports. Based on information obtained by secret service methods, police are investigating extremist groups that had been preparing to "carry out an act that would create a big bang."

Most of Kádár's bones, including his skull, were stolen from his grave late Tuesday night. Gábor Tóth, deputy to Budapest Police chief Péter Gergényi, said Thursday that some traces near the grave and other parts of the cemetery could provide clues to the identity of the culprits.

Workers Party chairman Gyula Thürmer declared in a letter to Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány and Budapest Mayor Gábor Demszky that only his party has the moral and political right to rebury Kádár. However, state secretary Zoltán J. Gál said Budapest city council and the Budapest Interment Institute will discuss a reburial. The Workers Party announced that it will stage a commemoration at the cemetery today.

Deputy mayor Miklós Hagyó asked for a detailed report from the head of the institute. He ordered additional security at the cemetery between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Writer György Moldova told MTV Thursday morning that Kádár was right to have people hanged, because many of his victims were also murderers.

Francis Wurtz, caucus leader of the European United Left-Nordic Green Left in the European Parliament, expressed indignation, while Russian Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov demanded that the culprits be hunted down and punished.

The above story is just one of more than two dozen published today by Hungary Around the Clock, the most comprehensive source of daily English-language news about Hungary. For a free trial of HATC, click here. Hungarian news sources include Népszabadság; Magyar Hírlap; Világgazdaság; Napi Gazdaság; Magyar Nemzet; Népszava; Kossuth Rádió news and Hungarian television's nightly news broadcast.

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