DistantNews
Support us
SPP chief's hidden past: Lucian Pahonțu, in repression troops during Revolution and Mineriada
🇷🇴 Romania /Conflict & Security

SPP chief's hidden past: Lucian Pahonțu, in repression troops during Revolution and Mineriada

From Adevărul · () Romanian

Translated from Romanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • General Lucian Pahonțu, head of Romania's SPP security service, was part of security forces during the 1989 Revolution and the 1990 Mineriada events.
  • Investigations reveal Pahonțu, then a lieutenant, commanded a platoon present in Bucharest during the Revolution, including the Intercontinental Hotel area on December 21, 1989.
  • Pahonțu stated he did not directly engage with protesters during his deployment, but his unit was part of forces that included military units and armored vehicles firing warning shots.

General Lucian Pahonțu, the head of Romania's Special Protection and Guard Service (SPP), was part of security forces during both the 1989 Revolution and the violent events of the 1990 Mineriada, according to an investigation by Recorder.

Documents reviewed by journalists show that Pahonțu, then a lieutenant, began his military career in the Security Troops, a militarized unit of the Interior Ministry considered part of the communist regime's repressive apparatus. Between 1987 and 1990, he commanded a platoon at UM 0305 Băneasa. During the Revolution, his unit was mobilized to Bucharest, and on the evening of December 21, 1989, his platoon was deployed near the University Square and the Intercontinental Hotel.

Reports from officers involved in the events mention Pahonțu's presence. Major Gheorghe Rădulescu described receiving orders to replace a subunit on December 13 Street, alongside "Capt. Potinteu Emil and Lt. Pahonțu Lucian." Rădulescu detailed confrontations in the area, noting that the soldiers were equipped with helmets, shields, and live ammunition.

received order to replace a subunit that was deployed on December 13 Street together with cpt. Potinteu Emil and lt. Pahonțu Lucian

— Gheorghe RădulescuA major describing the troop movements and personnel involved during the 1989 Revolution.

During that night, forces in the area of the Intercontinental barricade opened fire. The Recorder investigation indicates that 48 people were killed and 150 injured in that specific confrontation, with 1,245 people arrested or beaten.

In a statement to prosecutors, Pahonțu described his participation in the December 17-22, 1989 events. He stated that around 10 p.m. on December 21, he received orders to relieve a subunit on December 13 Street, remaining there until approximately 2 a.m. He asserted that neither he nor his subunit had contact with the demonstrators. Pahonțu also mentioned that units and armored vehicles from the Ministry of National Defense were positioned in front of their deployment, executing warning shots.

equipped with gray-blue uniforms, with helmets and shields and of course with combat weapons and ammunition

— Gheorghe RădulescuDescribing the equipment of the soldiers, including Lt. Pahonțu's unit, during the confrontations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Adevărul in Romanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog