2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Romania

  By U.S. Mission Romania    EXECUTIVE SUMMARY   There were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Romania during the year.   Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government or on behalf of the government; and serious government corruption.   The government took credible steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights abuses, but in some cases government actions were insufficient and impunity was a problem.   Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person   a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings   There were reports the government or its agents might have committed arbitrary or unlawful killings.   Authorities opened an investigation against two local police officers for abusive behavior and involuntary homicide after a man died in police custody in July in the western city of Arad. According to photographs obtained by media, his body had several face, chest, and arm wounds, indicating he had been beaten. As of year’s end, a local police agent was under arrest and a criminal investigation was pending.   In September, Arges county prosecutors indicted two police officers for their alleged involvement in the 2021 involuntary manslaughter of a man being evacuated from a burning restaurant in the city of Pitesti. According to surveillance camera footage of the incident, immediately prior to the man’s death, officers appeared to push him to the ground and compress his cervical area during an argument. As of year’s end, the case was pending before the Arges County Tribunal.   In February, the High Court of Cassation and Justice transferred the lawsuit against former President Ion Iliescu and former Vice Prime Minister Gelu Voican Voiculescu to the Bucharest Court of Appeal, where it was pending as of year’s end. The two were accused of committing crimes against humanity during the 1989 Romanian Revolution.   In July, the High Court of Cassation and Justice issued a final ruling acquitting former communist-era Securitate officials Marin Parvulescu, Vasile Hodis, and Tudor Postelnicu. The three officials had been accused of committing crimes against humanity in 1985 when, according to prosecutors, they were responsible for arresting and beating anticommunist dissident Gheorghe Ursu to death. (More details on: https://ro.usembassy.gov/2023-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices-romania/)