Romania's ex-president Ion Iliescu prosecuted for crime against humanity
A former Romanian president has appeared before the nation’s top court, which is prosecuting him for crimes against humanity during an anti-government protest 25 years ago in which six people died and hundreds were wounded.
Ion Iliescu, 85, went to the High Court of Cassation and Justice to hear the charges connected to the government’s violent repression of the June 1990 protest. He denies wrongdoing, but made no statements during Wednesday’s session.
A court statement said Iliescu is being prosecuted for the deaths of four people, the shooting of three others and depriving 1,000 people of their freedom. Prosecutors have not explained why Iliescu is being charged with four deaths rather than six.
The head of the Romanian Intelligence Service at the time, Virgil Magureanu, a close ally of Iliescu, also appeared before the court. Asked whether he was guilty of crimes against humanity, he said: “That’s a stupid question.”
The defence minister at the time, Victor Stanculescu, also appeared, telling reporters that prosecutors had cited him as a suspect in the case.
Club-wielding coal miners and police broke up a week-long pro-democracy protest in Bucharest in 1990, arresting and beating thousands of people. Iliescu later thanked the miners, drawing criticism at home and abroad.
Romanian television stations replayed the footage of Iliescu thanking the miners.
Former Romanian president charged with crimes against humanity for deadly 1990 protest https://t.co/WsM6qYOAma pic.twitter.com/9iKJD7rK8Z
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The European Court of Human Rights has ordered Romania to pay compensation to victims.
The case was never properly investigated because of the continued presence of former communists in government. But in March, military prosecutors reopened the case.
Thousands of Romanians emigrated after the 1990 riots amid doubts about Romania’s commitment to democracy six months after the ouster and execution of Communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu.
Iliescu was elected president of Romania three times, serving from 1990 to 1996 and from 2000 to 2004.
