Sadyr Japarov hands over archival documents about Laszlo Meszaros

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov met with the grandchildren of the famous sculptor, architect and decorator Laszlo Meszaros — Zoltan, Miklos and Katalin Jancsó in Budapest. Press service of the head of state reported.

He expressed his respect to Laszlo Meszaros, who, despite his short life, made a significant contribution to the architecture of modern Bishkek, as well as to the development of sculptural art in general. Laszlo Meszaros emigrated to the Kyrgyz SSR (Frunze) in the 1930s of the last century. A number of buildings in present-day Bishkek, including the old Government House, the railway station and the building of the National Bank, are associated with his name. The square in front of the Government House, the current presidential administration, designed by Laszlo Meszáros, has been preserved until today. He was repressed in 1938.

After that, his wife Vilma Kovacs and their children stayed in Frunze, as relatives say, «in the hope of learning something about his fate.» Vilma Kovacs herself was hospitalized in an infectious diseases hospital in 1942, after which nothing is known about her fate. Relatives were told that she had died, and to this day they do not know what really happened to her. Daughter Marta Meszaros has repeatedly appealed to the authorities of Kyrgyzstan with a request to assist in the search for information about the fate, life and circumstances of the death of her mother Vilma Kovacs. Marta Meszaros turned 93 and she was unable to attend the meeting with Sadyr Japarov.

At a meeting with the grandchildren of the architect, the President emphasized that the Kyrgyz people highly honor the memory of the merits of Laszlo Meszaros — one of the capital’s streets was named after him and a memorial plaque was erected in Bishkek. The head of state said that, at the request of Marta Meszaros, he instructed to conduct searches in the republican archives. He decided to personally hand over the materials found there: two family photographs of Vilma Kovacs and seven photographs of Laszlo Meszaros. Among them are children’s photographs taken at the beginning of the 20th century in Budapest and Italy, as well as in Frunze. In addition, a death certificate of Vilma Kovacs was found.

The grandchildren of Laszlo Meszaros noted that they had repeatedly visited Kyrgyzstan during the filming of documentaries and feature films, fell in love with the country and were nostalgic for it. Katalin Jancsó said that at home they talk about Kyrgyzstan, which occupies a significant part in their hearts. They thanked Sadyr Japarov for the photographs and documents and accepted the invitation to visit Kyrgyzstan with their children.