SRI declassifies the Revolution files

33 years since the anti-communist revolution, the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) has declassified all documents concerning the events of 1989. 13 volumes with copies of archive pages, correspondence, reports and notifications compiled by the Securitate, the communist secret police, are included in the archive. One of the volumes comprises messages sent by the Securitate to the National Television Station, one of the focal points of the revolution. In one such message, Securitate officers expressed support for ousting Ceaușescu. The message never reached the public however, but Securitate officers expressed readiness to come in person to the radio and TV public broadcasters to support this move. 

SRI Director Eduard Hellvig recalls that, unfortunately, millions of Romanians still want the truth about the events of 1989 in order to close once and for all one of the darkest chapters in Romanian history. In turn, president Klaus Iohannis said that failing to bring to serve justice for the crimes of the Revolution remains a vulnerability of our society that further fuels pain and frustration. This summer, the Revolution investigation, whereby former president Ion Iliescu, former deputy Prime Minister Gelu Voican Voiculescu and former General Iosif Rus, the head of the Military Aviation at the time, stand accused of crimes against humanity, was sent back to the Supreme Court. At first the case was registered at the Supreme Court in 2019, but judges referred it back to the Military Prosecutor's Office for correcting several issues in the indictment. Military prosecutors say Ion Iliescu's inner circle acted skillfully and effectively to take over the political and military power reins in December 1989. Iliescu reportedly misled the public constantly, repeatedly and systematically. 

A far-reaching nationwide and carefully planned military action of unprecedented scope designed to misinform the audiences was carried out across Romania, prosecutors say. This led to generating and amplifying terrorism psychosis, which eventually brought many people to their graves. Romania's entire military force was allegedly at the whim of the National Salvation Front (FSN) Council, a provisional authority that subsequently grew into a political party, led by Ion Iliescu. In May 1990, Iliescu was elected president of Romania. He secured another two terms, over 1992-1996 and 2000-2004. Over the years, FSN evolved into PDSR, and then PSD, which is a part of the current ruling coalition. (VP)