Esedés

Esedés is a term primarily used in Hungarian to refer to the State Security Service of the People's Republic of Hungary. This organization, often referred to by its Hungarian acronym ÁVH (Államvédelmi Hatóság), was the secret police force of Hungary from 1945 to 1956. The ÁVH was a powerful and feared institution responsible for internal security, political surveillance, and suppressing opposition to the communist regime.

The ÁVH's origins can be traced back to the post-World War II era, during the Soviet occupation of Hungary. It was heavily influenced by and modeled after Soviet security agencies, particularly the NKVD. Initially tasked with rooting out Nazi collaborators and fascist elements, its mandate quickly expanded to include the suppression of any perceived threats to the communist party's power. This led to widespread arrests, torture, and executions of political opponents, intellectuals, religious figures, and members of the former aristocracy.

During the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, the ÁVH became a primary target for the revolutionaries. Its headquarters in Budapest were stormed, and many of its members were captured or killed. Following the revolution and the subsequent Soviet intervention, the ÁVH was officially dissolved. However, its legacy of repression and political control left a lasting scar on Hungarian history. The term "esedés" thus evokes a period of state-sanctioned terror and the pervasive presence of a secret police force.