Radio România Internațional

Tag: 1989 Revolution Case

  • April 17, 2018

    April 17, 2018


    REVOLUTION CASE – Army prosecutors have today announced the extension of the interval for the criminal prosecution of the former president of the country Ion Iliescu to December 27-31, 1989, for which an endorsement of investigation is not necessary. Ion Iliescu has been summoned to the Prosecutor Generals Office to be informed about the start of his prosecution for crimes against humanity, in the 1989 Revolution Case. On April 13th, the current president Klaus Iohannis endorsed the start of the criminal prosecution of Ion Iliescu, of the former prime-minister Petre Roman and of the former deputy prime-minister Gelu Voican Voculescu in the Revolution Case. The three ex-officials are now being prosecuted and can be sent to court for crimes against humanity, allegedly committed between the 22nd and the 31st of December 1989, when they were holding positions in the National Salvation Front Council, which back then was holding both the executive and the legislative power. According to prosecutors, the armed incidents that occurred after December 22nd, in several towns and cities across Romania, are indicative of the fact that everything occurred as the result of a pre-established plan, aimed at helping the new leaders take over power and gain legitimacy. The three former officials, though, say they are innocent. According to official statistics, in December 1989 more than 1100 people were killed and more than 3000 were wounded, mostly after the arrest of dictator Ceausescu and his wife.



    BUCHAREST FORMAT – Bucharest is hosting the first parliamentary summit of the Bucharest Format (B9), attended by representatives of nine European countries and high ranking NATO officials. The summit is aimed at strengthening the role of national parliaments in the security and defense fields. The agenda of the event, which will last until Thursday, includes topics such as the future presence of NATO, the defense and deterrence posture, fighting terrorism, perceptions regarding the threats facing the participant countries and legislative consolidation in the defense field. The B 9 summit is aimed at conveying a unitary and coherent message concerning the strengthening of NATOs Eastern flank, ahead of the NATO summit to be hosted by Brussels in July.



    FAC – The EU foreign ministers, gathered in Luxembourg, have voiced support for all the measures aimed at preventing new chemical attacks against civilians in Syria and have called for a re-launch of the political process, aimed to put an end to the conflict. Attending the External Affairs Council, the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu has stated that Romania firmly condemns the use of chemical weapons in any circumstances, especially against civilians. Talking about the prolonged crisis in Syria, Melescanu has drawn attention to the danger of a military escalation, which would have serious consequences in the region, and has called on all the parties involved to support the UNs efforts to find a political solution.



    SUMMIT – On May 4th, the Bulgarian city of Ruse will play host to an informal meeting of the presidents of Bulgaria, Austria and Romania, the countries holding successively the rotating presidency of the EU Council as of January 1st, 2018. According to the press office of the Bulgarian presidential administration, the three heads of state will debate topics of European interest, which are also among the priorities of the current Bulgarian presidency of the EU Council. The meeting in Ruse is an expression of the three countries political will to ensure a common stand with regard to the main topics on the EU agenda, such as the European prospects of the Western Balkans, the future of the cohesion policy and the interconnection of the energy networks in the region.



    PROTESTS – Hundreds of employees of the County Emergency Hospital in Craiova, south-western Romania, have today continued their protest against the drop in their incomes an said that, unless their claims are settled, they will start an all-out strike. Health-care employees in Iasi, in the north-east, and Resita, in the west, have also protested today against the new salary scheme used in the sector. On Monday, hundreds of employees with several hospitals in Bucharest and other cities across Romania came to the streets to protest against the 30% cap on bonuses, which has diminished their incomes significantly. The health minister Sorina Pintea has stated that the incomes have dropped only for 10% of the health-care staff and has explained that the bonus cap must be observed. Pintea has also said that hospital directors must manage their activities properly and provide the money for the existing gaps from the hospitals own funds.



    MUSIC AWARDS – On Monday, Radio Romania awarded the best Romanian music performers and the best pieces and albums recorded last year. The award for best female voice went to the pop singer Andra, and for best male voice to the soloist of the band Directia V, Cristi Enache. The rock band Vunk and the pop band The Motans won the awards for best rock and best pop artists respectively. The prize for best album and best singer of the year was won by Smiley, and the excellence award went to the pop-rock singer Dida Dragan.



    HANDBALL – The Romanian womens handball champions CSM Bucharest will learn today their opponents in the Final Four semifinals, following a drawing of lots. CSM Bucharest qualified on Sunday night for the so called Final Four of the Champions League, although it had lost 20-27 to the French from Metz, in a match away from home. In the first match, on home turf, CSM had won 34-21. The other three teams that have qualified for the Final Four are the current champion Gyor ETO of Hungary, HC Vardar of Macedonia and Rostov-Don of Russia. The semifinals and the final will be held on May 12 and 13, in Budapest, where the Romanian team won the competition back in 2016. (translated by Mihaela Ignatescu)




  • The 1989 Revolution Case

    The 1989 Revolution Case


    Romanian president Klaus Iohannis has approved the requests for the prosecution of the former president Ion Iliescu, former prime minister Petre Roman and the former deputy prime minister Gelu Voican Voiculescu as part of the so-called Revolution Case. The three ex-officials can now be investigated and prosecuted for crimes against humanity committed between the 22nd and the 31st of December 1989 while they were serving in the National Salvation Front Council, the body holding executive and legislative power at the time.



    At the end of last year, the Prosecutor Generals Office announced new evidence had been found that shed light on the events that took place three decades ago. Prosecutors say diversion was certainly used and that it was employed in a complex manner, being the main cause of many deaths and cases of bodily harm and destruction of goods. The case put together by prosecutors has revealed the mechanisms of constant misinformation, with extremely serious consequences, conducted through the public television and radio stations, which were tightly controlled by the communist regime, as well as by the military means of communication, all of which led to the installation of a national state of psychosis caused by a fear of terrorists.



    Prosecutors also say they are beginning to understand how a series of diversionist military orders were transmitted, again with serious consequences. On 22nd December 1989, Ion Iliescu became the president of the National Salvation Front Council, the body that de facto held central executive and legislative power after the arrest of the Ceausescu dictatorial couple. The Council acted as a government until the 27th of December, when its president was granted the role of head of state and its legislative duties were separated from its executive ones.



    Petre Roman was officially appointed prime minister, while Gelu Voican Voiculescu became his deputy. Voiculescu has kept silent after the presidents move to approve the start of criminal investigations. Iliescu and Roman, however, say they are outraged, in particular the latter, who says he was himself at risk of losing his life during the anti-Ceausescu protest in Bucharest. The former president Ion Iliescu has spoken about a “judicial spectacle” to look for “a scapegoat”. He says the conclusion of the case has nothing to do with looking for the truth about those events, about which no one had a complete picture at the time.



    The official toll of the Revolution puts the number of deaths at over 1,000 and that of injuries at some 3,000, most of which occurred after the collapse of the Ceausescu regime. Romania is the only country in central and eastern Europe where the transition from communist dictatorship to democracy came about through bloodshed. These crimes cannot be prescribed, and finding out the guilty, even if 30 years later, would help rehabilitate the Romanian justice system. (Translated by Cristina Mateescu)




  • The 1989 Revolution Case

    The 1989 Revolution Case


    Romanian president Klaus Iohannis has approved the requests for the prosecution of the former president Ion Iliescu, former prime minister Petre Roman and the former deputy prime minister Gelu Voican Voiculescu as part of the so-called Revolution Case. The three ex-officials can now be investigated and prosecuted for crimes against humanity committed between the 22nd and the 31st of December 1989 while they were serving in the National Salvation Front Council, the body holding executive and legislative power at the time.



    At the end of last year, the Prosecutor Generals Office announced new evidence had been found that shed light on the events that took place three decades ago. Prosecutors say diversion was certainly used and that it was employed in a complex manner, being the main cause of many deaths and cases of bodily harm and destruction of goods. The case put together by prosecutors has revealed the mechanisms of constant misinformation, with extremely serious consequences, conducted through the public television and radio stations, which were tightly controlled by the communist regime, as well as by the military means of communication, all of which led to the installation of a national state of psychosis caused by a fear of terrorists.



    Prosecutors also say they are beginning to understand how a series of diversionist military orders were transmitted, again with serious consequences. On 22nd December 1989, Ion Iliescu became the president of the National Salvation Front Council, the body that de facto held central executive and legislative power after the arrest of the Ceausescu dictatorial couple. The Council acted as a government until the 27th of December, when its president was granted the role of head of state and its legislative duties were separated from its executive ones.



    Petre Roman was officially appointed prime minister, while Gelu Voican Voiculescu became his deputy. Voiculescu has kept silent after the presidents move to approve the start of criminal investigations. Iliescu and Roman, however, say they are outraged, in particular the latter, who says he was himself at risk of losing his life during the anti-Ceausescu protest in Bucharest. The former president Ion Iliescu has spoken about a “judicial spectacle” to look for “a scapegoat”. He says the conclusion of the case has nothing to do with looking for the truth about those events, about which no one had a complete picture at the time.



    The official toll of the Revolution puts the number of deaths at over 1,000 and that of injuries at some 3,000, most of which occurred after the collapse of the Ceausescu regime. Romania is the only country in central and eastern Europe where the transition from communist dictatorship to democracy came about through bloodshed. These crimes cannot be prescribed, and finding out the guilty, even if 30 years later, would help rehabilitate the Romanian justice system. (Translated by Cristina Mateescu)




  • April 12, 2016

    April 12, 2016

    UKRAINE – The Parliament of Ukraine, a country neighbouring Romania, will today approve the resignation of PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk and find him a replacement. Yatsenyuk announced his resignation on Sunday, blaming politicians’ failure to enact real changes. His government has been constantly accused, over the past few months, of inaction and corruption. President Petro Poroshenko could now install Volodymyr Groysman, a member of his own party, as the next prime minister. However, the Unian news agency quoted parliament sources as saying that Groysman is said to have turned down the President’s proposal over divergences regarding the Cabinet’s membership.




    LEGISLATION – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has initiated consultations with parliamentary parties on the national security legislation. Iohannis seeks consensum ahead of the public debate on this issue. The Social Democratic Party (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) are attending today’s meeting with the head of state. The PSD leader, Liviu Dragnea, has said that his party supports the Romanian state’s investigative capacity but that citizens’ fundamental rights should not be affected. In his turn, the co-president of the National Liberal Party, Alina Gorghiu, believes that improving the national security legislation has become the goal of the entire political class, against the background of the terrorist threat. In his turn, the UDMR leader, Kelemen Hunor, has said he is in favor of a balance to be striken between the need for security and the observance of people’s rights and liberties. The need for the revision of the security legislation has been signalled recently by President Iohannis, who has said that the current legislation no longer reflects the present security context.




    ECHR – Romania was sentenced again in the European Court of Human Rights for failing to solve the anti-communist Revolution case. This time, Romania must pay 675 thousand euros to 45 people. Each plaintiff will get 15 thousand euros in damages. In February, the European Court of Human Rights had ruled that the Romanian state must pay 15 thousand euros to each of the 17 plaintiffs. The latter accused the authorities of failure to carry out an efficient investigation into the death of their loved ones and into the ill treatments that they, or people close to them, were subjected to during the December 1989 protests. The Revolution Case was reopened last week in Romania. According to official statistics, over 1,100 people lost their lives and around 3 thousand were injured during the December 1989 Revolution.





    PROTESTS— The rally of miners and power industry workers with the Oltenia Energy Compound in southwestern Romania in protest at the lay-off of hundreds of employees continues. Around 60 of them will travel over 300 km to Bucharest, to protest in front of the Government headquarters. Among other things, the unionists demand that a plan be urgently put in place to enhance the efficiency of production units and that salary schemes should be based on performance criteria. Unionists hope that what they call “the rally of despair” will also trigger a revision of the regulations on the domestic energy market.




    ELECTIONS – The leadership of the National Liberal Party (PNL), the most important right-of centre party in Romania, is today nominating a new candidate for Bucharest’s mayoralty. The National Liberal Party vice-president and candidate in the race for Bucharest mayor, Ludovic Orban, withdrew his candidacy and renounced his party positions, after being subjected to legal restrictions pending trial in a new corruption case. Anti-corruption prosecutors claim that Orban last month demanded 50,000 euros from a businessman linked with decision-makers in two television stations in exchange for the media advertising of his campaign. Local elections will be held in Romania on June 5th.




    DOPING – Romanian athlete Mirela Lavric, aged 25, one of the best sprinters in Romania, tested positive for Meldonium during the World Indoor Championships in Portland, this March, when she won the bronze medal in the 4 x 400m relay race, ProSport online magazine reports. Mirela Lavric is thus the first Romanian athlete tested positive for the same substance as the famous tennis player Maria Sharapova.