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Romania calls for probe of 2 ex-prison chiefs for 204 deaths

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FILE - In this Dec. 10, 2010 file picture, a woman, who declined to be identified, holds a candle as she walks in a prison cell of the Fort 13 at the Jilava jail, in Jilava, Romania, during a religious service for the political prisoners that died here. A government institute tasked with investigating communist crimes has called for two former prison chiefs to be probed on suspicion of causing the deaths of 204 political prisoners.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
Original Publication Date: June 29, 2016 11:03PM
Publication Updated: April 28, 2025 3:06AM

BUCHAREST, Romania – A Romanian government institute tasked with investigating communist-era crimes has called for two former prison chiefs to be probed on suspicion of causing the deaths of 204 political prisoners.

The Institute for Investigating the Crimes of Communism gave the files, based on written testimonies and state archives, to the general prosecutors’ office Thursday.

Institute chief Radu Preda said Marian Petrescu, commander of several labour colonies and prisons from 1956 to 1966, is suspected of running an abusive regime, leading to 104 deaths.

Gheorghe Bostina is suspected of causing the deaths of 100 prisoners from 1957-1960. The institute could not say where the two men were.

In 2013, the institute began investigating the deaths of thousands of political detainees. Two former prison commanders have been sentenced for crimes against humanity.

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