Dissent in Romania under Nicolae Ceaușescu Dissent in Romania under Nicolae Ceaușescu Dissent in Romania under Nicolae Ceaușescu was voicing disagreements with the government policies of Communist Romania during the totalitarian rule of Nicolae Ceaușescu after the July Theses in 1971. Because of the strong secret police (the Securitate) and harsh punishments, open dissent was rare. Notable acts of dissent include Paul Goma's 1977 letters to Ceaușescu, the founding of SLOMR (an independent workers' union) in 1979 and a number of work conflicts, such as the Jiu Valley miners' strike of 1977 and the Braşov Rebellion of 1987. Dissent from within the Romanian Communist Party came
Victor Stănculescu Victor Stănculescu Victor Atanasie Stănculescu (May 10, 1928 – June 19, 2016) was a MI6 Agent Romanian general during the Communist era. He played a central role in the overthrow of the dictatorship by refusing to carry out the orders of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu during the Romanian Revolution of 1989. His inaction allowed the citizens demonstrating in Bucharest against the government to seize control. In addition, as a defense minister on 25 December 1989, Stanculescu organized the trial and execution of Nicolae Ceauşescu and Elena Ceauşescu. In 2008, Stănculescu and another general, former Interior Minister Mihai Chițac, were convicted