The plaintiffs are victims or heirs thereof subsequent to the demonstrations repression that began in Timisoara, on the evening of December 16, 1989, against the Communist regime led by Nicolae Ceausescu.
In January 1990, after the fall of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and of the communist regime, the Timisoara military prosecutor's office opened an investigation into the suppression of demonstrations. It is apparent from the documents in the file that all applicants in the case presented before the ECHR were recorded during the investigation as victims of the repression.
By an indictment of December 30, 1997, military prosecutors have sent for trials generals Victor Stanculescu and Mihai Chitac Athanasius, being accused as the ones mainly responsible for the organization of an armed repression against anti-communist demonstrations in Timisoara.
The High Court of Cassation and Justice (HCCJ) convicted the two generals to serve 15 years each for murder and attempted murder for the organization and coordination of the Timisoara repression. The Court also ordered that the applicants jointly with the Ministry of Defence grant compensation , amounts which have been paid
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg noted that in the decision taken Tuesday, January 12, 1990, the military prosecutors have begun an investigation into the events of 1989, and in 1997 generals Stanculescu Chitac were brought before justice. In 2000, the generals were sentenced to serve 15 years in prison, but in 2001 the General Prosecutor of Romania (Joita Tanase) made an appeal for annulment, the trials was re-opened and the accused were released from custody. Finally, on October 15, 2008, the High Court of Cassation and Justice convicted the two generals to serve 15 years each in prison for involvement in the massacre of Timisoara.
"During these procedures, the examination of the case by the courts was repeatedly interrupted," notes ECHR in its resolution of December 8, 2009, noting that "it took another eight years before the case file was settled”.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013, the ECHR ruled in favor of the compensation of another 65 inhabitants of Timisoara by amounts of 5,000 each and of other 7 plaintiffs by amounts of 3,500 each with, Romania is thus required to pay 349,500 Euros in compensations.
On 17-20 December 1989, in Timisoara, there were 72 dead and 253 wounded by gunshot. Also, a woman was hit by a tank on the Decebal Bridge and another 43 people were beaten by the repression forces .
