In October-November 1956, Soviet tanks entered Budapest to suppress a nationwide revolt against the Communist regime in Hungary. Over 2,500 Hungarians were killed in clashes with police and Soviet troops, while thousands were wounded and some 200,000 fled the country.
Federation Council senators paid tribute in a statement "on behalf of Russians to those who suffered in those tragic days. The upper house conveys feelings of friendship and solidarity to Hungarians."
Senators said Russia could not be blamed for the actions of the Soviet leadership. "However, moved by the feelings of honor and dignity, we feel a moral responsibility for certain pages of our history, and hope that present-day Hungarian society will appreciate the sincerity of our regret for the events in Hungary in October-November 1956," the statement said.
Russia officially apologized for the events in 1991.
The senators' statement said mutual political will and wisdom will keep past conflicts from impairing further progress in developing partnership between the countries, which is in the interests of both sides.
Federation Council Speaker Sergei Mironov will fly to Budapest Sunday to attend a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the event.
Mikhail Margelov, head of the house's international affairs committee, said the main lesson of violence in Hungary was that political regimes must not be imposed by force, whether it be communism or democracy.
He said European integration and the collapse of communism had "erased former hostile borders" and created favorable conditions for partnership between Russia and the European Union.
"Nowadays Russia proactively cooperates with Europe along all lines requiring collective efforts," the senator said, citing efforts to counter international terrorism, organized crime, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and support for religious and ethnic intolerance.
