SPP head Lucian Pahonțu defended himself against an investigative report by Recorder regarding the December 1989 Romanian Revolution, stating that his security unit was stationed blocks away from the main clashes on Strada 13 Decembrie.
Lucian Pahonțu’s Defense and the Disputed December 1989 Position
On August 31, 2026, SPP head Lucian Pahonțu issued a public statement maintaining that he had no involvement in the suppression of peaceful demonstrators on the night of December 21, 1989. According to his statement to the press, after receiving orders around 22:00, he entered the deployment on Strada 13 Decembrie (currently known as Strada Ion Câmpineanu) at the intersection with Strada Academiei.
Pahonțu maintained that his unit remained stationary roughly 100 meters away from a Militia cordon, with Ministry of National Defense armored vehicles and troops stationed further ahead near Bulevardul Nicolae Bălcescu. Recorder’s investigative reporting previously placed Pahonțu on the same street leading toward University Square, though the SPP head countered that his forces stayed at the opposite end of the roadway closer to Calea Victoriei, where no direct contact with protesters occurred during the initial four-hour window.
Contrasting Accounts of Violence at Both Ends of Strada 13 Decembrie
Eyewitness testimonies and court files from the Revolution paint a complex picture of Strada 13 Decembrie, where both ends experienced state crackdowns against civilians. While the southern end near Bulevardul Nicolae Bălcescu witnessed open clashes with crowds demanding the removal of Nicolae Ceaușescu, the northern end at Strada Academiei operated largely out of public view.
Did you know? Strada 13 Decembrie was known as Strada Regală prior to the communist regime. Today, this central Bucharest thoroughfare is designated as Strada Ion Câmpineanu.
According to historical records and documentation gathered by prosecutors, the intersection of Strada 13 Decembrie and Strada Academiei functioned as a collection point for detained individuals. Protesters caught near the Hotel Negoiu and surrounding zones were brought behind the lines of the security forces operating in that sector.
Testimony of Horia-Roman Patapievici on Detainee Treatment
Writer Horia-Roman Patapievici documented his experience as one of the early revolutionaries arrested on the evening of December 21, 1989, in an essay titled „Unter dem Strang: die Geschichte einer Nacht” published in January 1990. According to Patapievici’s account, detainees brought into custody reported extreme violence committed by special units rotating through the sector.
Patapievici wrote that he was told of „arestaţi târâţi de picioare până în dreptul hotelului Negoiu, izbiţi acolo cu dinţii de zid şi apoi zdrobiţi în bătaie” (detainees dragged by their feet up to the Negoiu hotel, smashed against the walls with their teeth, and beaten to a pulp). These individuals were subsequently loaded into vans and transferred to Jilava prison, corroborating the use of the Strada Academiei intersection as a processing point for injured prisoners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did Lucian Pahonțu state he was stationed during the 1989 Revolution?
According to his August 2026 statement, Lucian Pahonțu stated he was stationed on Strada 13 Decembrie at the intersection with Strada Academiei, closer to Calea Victoriei.
What role did the Strada Academiei intersection play on December 21, 1989?
According to revolutionary court files and eyewitness accounts, the intersection served as a collection and holding point where protesters arrested on Bulevardul Nicolae Bălcescu were brought, detained, and beaten before being transported to prisons like Jilava.
What did Recorder’s investigation claim regarding Pahonțu?
Recorder reported that Pahonțu commanded a Security Troops platoon that formed part of the repressive forces operating on Strada 13 Decembrie during the night of December 21, 1989.
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