President of Romania pays homage to Ilie Ilascu: 'An unwavering patriot, a contemporary hero'

President of Romania Nicusor Dan has delivered a message in memory of Ilie Ilascu, one of the most renowned fighters for freedom, national identity and Romanian unity. The Romanian head of state emphasized that Ilascu’s passing away represented a profound loss for the entire Romanian space.

"Today, we bid farewell to a patriot who believed in and acted without hesitation for a dream of unity and freedom. Ilie Ilascu, an example of integrity and courage, reminds us that the fight for national identity and dignity is worth the price, no matter how high it might be," the Romanian president said.

Nicusor Dan highlighted the exceptional character of Ilie Ilascu, describing him as a contemporary hero, a man who faced extreme threats and endured years of political imprisonment in the Transnistrian region without abandoning his convictions.

"When we think of heroes, we often consider those who sacrificed in the past to preserve freedom. However, Ilie Ilascu was a contemporary hero with us, a symbol of Romanian resistance in the Transnistrian separatist region who, confronted with terrible threats and long years of political imprisonment, remained unyielding and was not afraid to risk everything for his ideal," emphasized the President of Romania.

In his message, Nicusor Dan expressed Romania's compassion and solidarity with the grieving family and all those who were close to him. "May God rest him in peace and keep the memory of Ilie Ilascu alive in the hearts of all!" concluded the Romanian president.

Ilie Ilascu stays a symbolic figure in recent history, a landmark in the struggle for freedom and dignity both in Moldova and in Romania.

He was born on July 30, 1952, in the village of Taxobeni, Falesti district. Ilascu  graduated from the Faculty of Economy at the Agricultural University and was one of the founders of the National Liberation Movement in Bessarabia (1988–1992). He led the Popular Front of Moldova - Tiraspol Branch (1989–1992) and actively participated in the Transnistria War, commanding special troops of Moldova’s National Security Ministry.

On June 2, 1992, he and other members of the Ilascu Group were arrested by separatist forces supported by the Russian GRU (Main Intelligence Directorate) and held as political prisoners until 2001. In 1993, Ilascu was sentenced to death by an unconstitutional court, and after international community’s intervention, he was released on May 5, 2001, and handed over to the authorities in Moldova and Romania.

His courage was recognized internationally. In 2004, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Russian Federation and the Republic of Moldova bear responsibility for torture and illegal deprivation of liberty in his case.

He was awarded the National Order Star of Romania - Knight (2001, decoration offered by President Ion Iliescu), the Order of the Republic (2010, Republic of Moldova) and named an Honorary Citizen of the municipalities of Bucharest and Chisinau, Sighisoara and of 37 other settlements of Romania.

Ilie Ilascu served as a deputy in the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova in two legislative periods (1994–1998 and 1998–2000) and a senator in the Romanian Parliament (2000–2008), representing the Greater Romania Party (PRM). He held important positions in committees for public health, human rights, defense, and public order and participated in Romania's delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.