Victor Stănculescu

For the football manager, see Victor Stănculescu (football manager).
Victor Stănculescu
Minister of National Defence
In office
16 February 1990 – 29 April 1991
PresidentIon Iliescu
Prime MinisterPetre Roman
Preceded byNicolae Militaru
Succeeded byNiculae Spiroiu
Personal details
Born
Victor Atanasie Stănculescu

(1928-05-10)10 May 1928
Tecuci, Kingdom of Romania
Died19 June 2016(2016-06-19) (aged 88)
Ghermănești, Ilfov County, Romania
Alma materCarol I National Defence University

Victor Atanasie Stănculescu (10 May 1928 – 19 June 2016) was a Romanian general during the Communist era. He played a central role in the overthrow of the dictatorship by refusing to carry out the orders[clarification needed] of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu during the Romanian Revolution of December 1989. His inaction allowed the citizens demonstrating in Bucharest against the government to seize control. In addition, as a defense minister on 25 December 1989, Stănculescu organized the trial and execution of Ceaușescu and his wife, Elena Ceaușescu.[1]

In 2008, Stănculescu and another general, former Interior Minister Mihai Chițac, were convicted of aggravated manslaughter by the Supreme Court for the shooting deaths of pro-democracy protesters in Timișoara, during the Romanian Revolution of 1989.[2] Sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment, he was freed in 2014.[3]

He died in 2016 at age 88.[4] His remains were cremated at the Vitan-Bârzești Crematorium [ro].[5]

References

  1. ^ "Ceausescu execution 'avoided mob lynching'". BBC. 25 December 2009. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  2. ^ "Romanian Ex-General Mihai Chitac Dies After Long Illness". Mediafax. 1 November 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  3. ^ "Victor Stănculescu, eliberat din închisoare". România Liberă. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. ^ Sam Roberts (June 21, 2016). "Victor Stanculescu, 88, Romanian General Who Turned Against Ceausescu, Dies". The New York Times.
  5. ^ Cătălin Azinicăi (22 June 2016). "Ion Iliescu, la ceremonia de la Crematoriul Vitan-Bârzești unde a fost incinerat Atanasie Stănculescu" (in Romanian). Mediafax. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
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