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*Attempting to flee the country using over $1 billion deposited in foreign banks.|image=[[File:Crop-Nicolae Ceaucescu 1978.jpg|110px]] [[File:Elena Ceausescu.jpg|110px]]|Image_Caption=Nicolae Ceaușescu (left), President of the [[Socialist Republic of Romania]] from 1974, also General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party since 1965, and his wife Elena Ceaușescu (right), were executed following trial on 25 December 1989.|name=Trial of the Ceaușescus|sentence=[[Capital punishment in Romania|Death]]|convicted=Nicolae Ceaușescu and Elena Ceaușescu|date=25 December 1989}}
 
'''The trial and execution of Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu''' waswere held on 25 December 1989 in [[Târgoviște]], [[Romania]].<ref name="TVR"/> The trial was conducted by an Exceptional Military Tribunal, a [[drumhead court-martial]] created at the request of a newly formed group called the [[National Salvation Front (Romania)|National Salvation Front]]. Its outcome was pre-determinedpredetermined, and it resulted in [[guilty verdict]]s and [[Capital punishment in Romania|death sentence]]s for former [[President of Romania|Romanian President]] and [[Romanian Communist Party]] [[General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party|General Secretary]] [[Nicolae Ceaușescu]], and his wife, [[Elena Ceaușescu]].<ref name=daysthat>{{cite serial |network=[[BBC Two]] |title=[[Days That Shook the World]] |series=Season 3, Episode 8 |episode=The Road To Revolution: The Execution of Ceaușescu/The Iranian Revolution |date=8 December 2005 }}</ref> The main charge was [[genocide]]. Romanian state television announced that Nicolae Ceaușescu had been responsible for the deaths of 60,000 people;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harden |first=Blaine |date=December 26, 1989 |title=Ceausescu, Wife Reported Executed After Trial |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1989/12/26/ceausescu-wife-reported-executed-after-trial/b9ae62da-bf1b-4630-ac66-a9e38fa9870f/ |access-date=2023-07-09 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> the announcement did not make clear whether this was the number killed during the [[Romanian Revolution]] in [[Timișoara]]<ref name="reuters1990">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-01-28-mn-1255-story.html |title=4 Top Ceausescu Aides Admit Complicity in Genocide: Romania: They are the first senior officials of regime to go on trial before a military court. The four are said to have confessed to all charges |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=28 January 1990 |agency=[[Reuters]] |access-date=16 October 2013 |location=Bucharest, Romania|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406122514/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-01-28-mn-1255-story.html |archive-date=6 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="Quigley2006">{{cite book|first=John B.|last=Quigley|title=The Genocide Convention: An International Law Analysis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZXZ8qMR5YVQC&pg=PA38 |year=2006 |publisher=[[Ashgate Publishing]] |isbn=978-0-7546-8029-1 |page=38}}</ref><ref name="Schabas2000">{{cite book|first=William|last=Schabas|title=Genocide in International Law: The Crimes of Crimes |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pYptuRHDQPgC&pg=PA392|year=2000|publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-78790-1|page=392}}</ref> or throughout the 24 years of Ceaușescu's rule.
 
Nevertheless, the charges did not affect the trial. General [[Victor Stănculescu]] had brought with him a specially selected team of [[paratroopers]] from a [[crack troops|crack regiment]], handpicked earlier in the morning to act as a [[firing squad]]. Before the legal proceedings began, Stănculescu had already selected the spot where the execution would take place: along one side of the wall in the [[barracks]]' square.<ref name="Burakovski273"/>
 
Nicolae Ceaușescu refused to recognize the [[tribunal]], arguing its lack of constitutional basis and claiming that the revolutionary authorities were part of a Soviet plot.<ref name="Burakovski273"/> His refusal to recognize the tribunal did not prevent the firing squad from carrying out the sentence immediately, on the same day as the trial.
 
==Arrest==
On 22 December 1989, during the [[Romanian Revolution]], Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu left the Central Committee building in Bucharest by helicopter toward [[Snagov]], from where they left soon afterwards towards Pitești.<ref>Burakovski, p. 272</ref> The[[Vasile Maluțan]], the helicopter pilot, claimed to be in danger from anti-aircraft fire, so he landed on the [[Bucharest]]–[[Târgoviște]] road, near [[Găești]]. They stopped a car driven by a Nicolae Decă, who took them to [[Văcărești, Dâmbovița|Văcărești]], after which he informed the local authorities that the Ceaușescus were going toward Târgoviște. The Ceaușescus took another car and told its driver, Nicolae Petrișor, to drive them to Târgoviște. During the trip, the Ceaușescus heard news of the revolution on the car radio (by then the revolutionaries had taken control of the state media), causing Ceaușescu to angrily denounce the revolution as a ''[[coup d'état]]''. Petrișor took the couple to an agricultural centre near Târgoviște, where they were locked in an office and later arrested by soldiers from a local army [[garrison]].<ref name="Burakovski273">Burakovski, p. 273</ref><ref name=dem25dec>{{cite news |last=Demian |first=Sinziana |title=In Romania, Ceaușescu's death haunts Christmas |url=https://theworld.org/dispatch/europe/091224/romania-nicolae-elena-ceausescu |url-status=live |access-date=30 March 2013 |newspaper=[[GlobalPost]] |date=25 December 2009 |location=Cluj Napoca|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924034343/https://theworld.org/dispatch/europe/091224/romania-nicolae-elena-ceausescu |archive-date=24 September 2022 }}</ref>
 
==Creation of the tribunal==
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==Trial==
{{Infobox court case
|name = Trial and execution of Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu
|court = Exceptional Military Tribunal, a [[drumhead court-martial]] created at the request of a newly formed group called the [[National Salvation Front (Romania)|National Salvation Front]]
|image =
|imagesize =
|imagealt =
|caption =
|full name =
|date decided = 25 December 1989
|verdict=
Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu were convicted of all charges and condemned to death
|charge=The main charge was [[genocide]].
|citations =
|ECLI =
|transcripts =
|judges = [[Victor Stănculescu]]
|number of judges =
|decision by =
|concurring =
|dissenting =
|concur/dissent =
|prior actions =
|appealed from =
|appealed to =
|subsequent actions =
|related actions =
|opinions =
|keywords = <!-- {{Hlist|...}} -->
|italic title = no
}}
At 5:30&nbsp;a.m. on 25 December, the two were taken by an [[armoured personnel carrier]] to the garrison command office where the trial would take place. After the medical visits, they were brought into the improvised courtroom.<ref name="TVR">{{cite web |url=https://artsandculture.google.com/story/HQVhRMp6MAUA8A?hl=en |title=Trial and Execution |work=[[Google Arts & Culture]] |author=[[TVR (TV network)|TVR]]|access-date=15 December 2023}}</ref> The trial of Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu was very brief, lasting approximately one hour.<ref name="Biography 2017">{{cite web |title=Nicolae Ceausescu |website=Biography |date=28 April 2017 |url=https://www.biography.com/political-figure/nicolae-ceausescu |access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-elsner/trial-and-execution-the-d_b_401497.html |title=Trial and Execution: The Dramatic Deaths of Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu |first=Alan |last=Elsner |website=[[HuffPost]] |date=22 July 2010}}</ref><ref name="NPR.org 2014">{{cite web |first=Soraya |last=Sarhaddi Nelson |title=25 Years After Death, A Dictator Still Casts A Shadow in Romania |publisher=NPR |date=24 December 2014 |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2014/12/24/369593135/25-years-after-death-a-dictator-still-casts-a-shadow-in-romania |access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref> Ceaușescu defended himself by arguing that the tribunal was against the [[1965 Constitution of Romania]] and that only the [[Great National Assembly (Socialist Republic of Romania)|Great National Assembly]] had the power to depose him. He argued that it was a ''[[coup d'état]]'' organized by the [[Soviet Union|Soviets]].<ref name="Burakovski273" />
 
Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu were convicted of all charges and condemned to death in what amounted to a [[show trial]].<ref name=impreuna /> At one point, their forcibly-assigned lawyers abandoned their clients' [[legal defense|defence]] and joined with the [[prosecutor]], accusing them of [[capital crime]]s instead of defending them.<ref name=ceausescustenogram>[[:s:ro:Stenograma procesului Ceaușescu]], translated at [[:s:Transcript of the closed trial of Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu]].</ref>{{primary source inline|date=May 2024}} No [[offer of proof]] was made for the Ceaușescus' alleged crimes. They were tried based on references, solely by offence-name or [[hearsay]], to criminal acts they had committed in the opinion of prosecutors, or as alleged in press reports.{{clarify|date=January 2020}} Various irregularities presented themselves, or became apparent after the trial:<ref name=impreuna>{{cite web |first=Grigore |last=Cartianu |title=Nicolae si Elena Ceausescu: 'Impreuna am luptat, sa murim impreuna!' |trans-title=Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu: 'Together we fought, let us die together!' |website=adevarul.ro |date=19 December 2009 |url=https://adevarul.ro/news/societate/nicolae-elena-ceausescu-Impreuna-luptat-murim-impreuna-1_50ad82ad7c42d5a663967ee4/index.html |language=ro |access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref><ref name=ceausescustenogram />
* The trial was held immediately, without a prior [[criminal investigation]].<ref name="Avocat Marian Roșca 2012"/>
* The suspects could not choose their own lawyers.<ref name="Avocat Marian Roșca 2012"/>
* The court did not attempt to find and prove the truth.<ref name="Avocat Marian Roșca 2012"/> There was no file of evidence presented to the court.<ref name="Antoniu 2019">{{cite web |last=Antoniu |first=Gabriela |title=Interviu integral – "Marius Tucă Show". Gen. C-tin Lucescu, despre procesul Ceauşeştilor: Nu a existat niciun fel de dosar. Nu am ştiut nici eu, nici procurorul |trans-title=Full interview -– "Marius Tucă Show". Gen. C-tin Lucescu, about the Ceaucescu trial: There was no file. Neither I nor the prosecutor knew |website=Mediafax.ro |date=27 November 2019 |url=https://www.mediafax.ro/marius-tuca-show/interviu-integral-marius-tuca-show-gen-c-tin-lucescu-despre-procesul-ceausestilor-nu-a-existat-niciun-fel-de-dosar-nu-am-stiut-nici-eu-nici-procurorul-18621319 |language=ro |access-date=28 November 2019}}</ref>
* An accusation of genocide was never proven. Four top Ceaușescu aides later admitted complicity in genocide in 1990.<ref name="reuters1990" /> [[Pro TV]] stated that there were 860 people killed after 22 December 1989 (i.e. when the dictatorial couple was no longer in charge).<ref>{{youTube|FR7_K3I_l_4J2aRiXor6Nk|StirileȘtirile ProTVPRO i️TV - 21 Februariefebruarie 2020 i️ ora 19 INTEGRAL}} 0:32:39</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/actualitate/schimbare-in-dosarul-revolutiei-doua-ministere-ar-putea-fi-obligate-sa-acorde-despagubiri.html |lang=ro |title=Schimbare în Dosarul Revoluției. Două ministere ar putea fi obligate să acorde despăgubiri |trans-title=Change in the Revolution File. Two ministries could be forced to pay compensation |website=Stirileprotv.ro|date=12 June 2020}}</ref> Another source gives the figure of 306 people killed 17–22 December 1989.<ref>Valentin Marin. ''Martirii Revoluției în date statistice'' Editura Institului Revoluției Române, Bucharest, 2010, p. 22</ref>
* The Ceaușescus were accused of having $1&nbsp;billion in foreign [[bank account]]s. No such accounts have ever been found.<ref name=impreuna/><ref name=ceausescustenogram />
* The judges' [[verdict]] allowed for [[appeal]]ing to a [[appellate court|higher court]]. The Ceaușescus were executed a few minutes after the verdict, rendering that provision moot.<ref name=impreuna/><ref name=ceausescustenogram /><ref name="Avocat Marian Roșca 2012">{{cite web |trans-title=Trials, famous cases- The Ceausescu trial. Aspects of judicial theory and practice. The most controversial Romanian trial |title=Procese, cazuri celebre- Procesul sotilor Ceausescu. Aspecte de teorie si practica judiciara. Cel mai controversat proces romanesc |website=Avocat Marian Roșca |date=20 October 2012 |url=http://www.avoconsult.ro/procese-cazuri-celebre-procesul-sotilor-ceausescu-aspecte-de-teorie-si-practica-judiciara-cel-mai-controversat-proces-romanesc.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020020554/http://www.avoconsult.ro/procese-cazuri-celebre-procesul-sotilor-ceausescu-aspecte-de-teorie-si-practica-judiciara-cel-mai-controversat-proces-romanesc.html |archive-date=20 October 2012 |url-status=dead |language=ro |access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref>
* The coupnew leadersauthorities said the execution of the Ceaușescus was necessary to stop [[terrorist]]s from attacking the new political order. No terrorists or [[terrorist cell]]s were found to have been active in Romania.<ref>{{cite web |author=R.M. |date=21 December 2010 |url=https://revistapresei.hotnews.ro/stiri-radio_tv-8145193-dan-voinea-nu-existat-teroristi-decembrie-39-89-sotii-ceausescu-fost-ucisi-pentru-salva-administratia-comunista-care-dureaza-azi.htm |title=Dan Voinea: Nu au existat teroristi in decembrie '89. Sotii Ceausescu au fost ucisi pentru a salva administratia comunista, care dureaza si azi |trans-title=Dan Voinea: There were no terrorists in December '89. The Ceausescu's were killed to save the communist administration, which continues today |work=Hotnews.ro |lang=ro }}</ref> A newer insight of prosecution of "crimes against humanity" claims that the new regime orchestrated "a psychosis of terrorism" through diversionary actions.<ref name="Capital 2019">{{cite web |first=Valentin |last=Vioreanu |title=Lovitură cumplită pentru Ion Iliescu! Ce au decis judecătorii |website=Capital |date=9 October 2019 |url=https://www.capital.ro/breaking-news-lovitura-cumplita-pentru-ion-iliescu-ce-au-decis-judecatorii.html |trans-title=A terrible blow for Ion Iliescu! What the judges decided |language=ro |access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref>
 
==Execution==
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==Further reading==
* {{cite book |first=Adam |last=Burakovski |lang=ro |trans-title=Nicolae Ceausescu's dictatorship, 1965-19891965–1989 -– Genius of the Carpathians |title=Dictatura lui Nicolae Ceaușescu, 1965–1989 – Geniul Carpaților |year=2011 |publisher=[[Polirom]] |isbn=978-973-46-1963-4}}
 
==External links==
* {{wikisource-inline|Transcript of the closed trial of Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu}}
* [https://archive.org/details/rec-0001_202010 Procesul Ceaușeștilor - caseta originală]
 
{{Cold War|state=collapsed}}
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[[Category:History of Târgoviște]]
[[Category:Nicolae Ceaușescu]]
[[Category:Romanian Revolutionrevolution]]
[[Category:Trials of political people]]
[[Category:Trials in Romania]]
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