Nicolae Ceaușescu the country in the three days since the Ceaușescus fled Bucharest. Similarly, Victor Stănculescu, who had been defense minister before going over to the revolution, said in 2009 that the alternative would have been seeing the Ceaușescus lynched on the streets of Bucharest. The Ceaușescus were the last people to be executed in Romania before the abolition of capital punishment on 7 January 1990. Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu were originally buried in simple graves at Ghencea Cemetery in Bucharest, on opposite sides of a path; their graves were often decorated with flowers and symbols of communist rule. In April 2007,
1989 XXV FIBA International Christmas Tournament 1989 XXV FIBA International Christmas Tournament The 1989 XXV FIBA International Christmas Tournament "Trofeo Raimundo Saporta-Memorial Fernando Martín" was the 25th edition of the FIBA International Christmas Tournament. It took place at Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad de Madrid, Madrid, Spain, on 24, 25 and 26 December 1989 with the participations of Real Madrid (champions of the 1988–89 FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup), Jugoplastika (champions of the 1988–89 FIBA European Champions Cup), Aris (champions of the 1988–89 Greek Basket League) and Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv (runners-up of the 1988–89 FIBA European Champions Cup). Day 1, December 24, 1989 Day