As the uprising against the Ceausescu regime broke out in December 1989 in Timisoara, Stanculescu (together with General Chitac) was dispatched to the city and ordered to suppress all demonstrations by any available means.
Když se v prosinci devětaosmdesátého roku rozpoutaly protirežimní nepokoje, byl Stanculescu spolu s Chitacem povolán do v Temešváru, aby demonstrace jakýmkoliv způsobem potlačil.