Former Romanian President Ion Iliescu has passed away at the age of 95, following a battle with lung cancer. He was hospitalized in early June in Bucharest and his death was announced by the Romanian government, which expressed deep regret.
Iliescu, a pivotal figure in Romania's history, served as the country's first freely elected president, holding office twice, from 1990-1996 and again from 2000-2004. He was at the forefront of Romania's tumultuous transition from communism to democracy. While he faced accusations of crimes against humanity linked to the violent revolt against the communist regime in 1989, he consistently denied any wrongdoing. Though charges were brought against him in 2019, he was never convicted.
Additionally, Iliescu was indicted for his involvement in the 1990 Mineriad, wherein miners were called in to confront student protests, resulting in a violent crackdown that drew international outrage. Before falling ill, he had been receiving regular medical check-ups, and in 2019, he underwent surgery for a heart condition.
Born on March 3, 1930, in Oltenița, Iliescu had stepped back from public life in recent years but remained engaged through written messages on his blog. His last post dated May 19, praised Bucharest’s liberal, pro-European Union mayor Nicusor Dan for his election victory.
