Ion Iliescu, the former president of Romania who guided the country’s transition from communism to democracy, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 95.
The government announced his death and shared that details regarding his state funeral will be released soon.
Iliescu, who was hospitalized in early June for lung cancer, had been in critical condition.
His political career was marked by both significant achievements and controversy.
He rose to power during the 1989 anti-communist revolution that overthrew dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu, becoming the head of an interim government.
He went on to win Romania’s first democratic election in 1990 and was re-elected twice more.
During his final term, Romania joined NATO in 2004 and signed the treaty to join the European Union, which it officially did in 2007.
Despite his political successes, Iliescu faced accusations of crimes against humanity for his role in the 1989 revolution and for his part in the 1990 crackdown on student protests, which involved calling in miners.
He consistently denied any wrongdoing, and due to legal complications, he was never brought to trial for either case.
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