Bucharest, December 17, 2025 – The Europe Today: Romania on December 17 marked the 36th anniversary of the violent crackdown on unarmed protesters in the western city of Timișoara, a pivotal moment that ignited the Romanian Revolution of 1989 and ultimately led to the fall of the communist regime.
On December 17, 1989, repression forces comprising the Army, Militia, and the Securitate opened fire on civilian demonstrators following orders issued by then-dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. Historical records and judicial findings confirm that Ceaușescu personally authorized state structures to use lethal force against the population in Timișoara and across the country. As a result, hundreds of unarmed civilians—including young people, women, and children—lost their lives while demanding freedom and political change.
Commemorative events held across the country paid tribute to the victims of the revolution, emphasizing the significance of preserving historical truth and honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Officials and civil society representatives stressed that keeping the memory of the victims alive is both a moral duty and a safeguard against the repetition of such crimes.
At the same time, concerns were raised over attempts in the public sphere to rehabilitate the image of Nicolae Ceaușescu or to glorify figures associated with the former regime’s repressive apparatus. In the current context of hybrid information warfare, analysts note that such narratives are often amplified and exploited by Russian propaganda, which seeks to distort historical facts, relativize the crimes of dictatorship, and undermine the authentic memory of the Romanian Revolution.
Romania’s path to freedom in 1989 was distinct from that of several other Eastern European countries, where political transitions occurred through reforms such as glasnost, perestroika, or so-called “velvet revolutions.” In Romania, the collapse of the communist regime came at the cost of human lives.
As the country marks this solemn anniversary, Romanians reiterated that freedom was not negotiated but won through sacrifice, reaffirming their commitment to preserving democratic values and historical truth.
