PHOTOS — Flag lowered to half-mast in front of Parliament in honour of Arad martyrs

Hungary’s national flag was hoisted with full military honours and lowered to half-mast in front of Parliament to mark the anniversary of the 1848-49 war of independence and the martyrs of Arad, at an event attended by Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky and army chief Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi on Thursday.

The ceremony was also attended by interior ministry state secretary Bence Rétvári.

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The flag will remain at half-mast throughout the day in tribute to the martyrs on the national day of mourning.

Commemorations will continue at the Fiumei Road cemetery with a wreath-laying ceremony at the mausoleum of Count Lajos Batthyány, Hungary’s first prime minister.

The government declared October 6 Hungary’s national day of mourning in 2001, in commemoration of the 13 martyrs executed in Arad following the crushing of the revolution. Batthyány, also commemorated today, was executed in Pest.

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Source: MTI