Hungary: Several demonstrations to take place in Budapest Feb. 9-11 /update 1

Several activist groups plan to demonstrate in central Budapest Feb. 9-11. Organizers have released the following details concerning the events:

Feb. 9:

Activists began assembling at Stephen Szechenyi Square at 16:30 before marching to the Presidential Palace, where a rally will take place until at least 19:30. The purpose of the demonstration is to condemn child abuse.

Feb. 10:

Anti-fascist groups will stage multiple demonstrations. The first will begin at 10:00 with participants assembling at the Shoes on the Danube Bank before marching to Kossuth Square. A second group of activists will gather at Kossuth Square near the statue of Jozsef Attila starting at 11:30 before marching along Vecsey Street to Freedom Square (Szabadsag ter). The events will both end at about 13:00. An additional group of anti-fascist activists will demonstrate at Szell Kalman Square from 14:30 until about 17:00.

Feb. 11:

A small group of activists will gather at Kapisztran Square from 18:00 to commemorate the German and Hungarian troops who defended the Hungarian capital from Soviet and Romanian forces during the 1944-1945 Siege of Budapest. The event is slated to end at about 19:00.

While the gatherings planned for Feb. 10-11 will probably remain rather small, they could become somewhat contentious given that they coincide with annual activities marking the siege that took place toward the end of World War II. Heightened security and localized transport disruptions are likely near the demonstration sites. Low-level confrontations are possible between protesters and law enforcement officers, or among activists with opposing political viewpoints.