The “Elie Wiesel” Institute for the Study of the Holocaust in Romania on Tuesday called on the government and prosecutors to swiftly investigate a pro-fascist rally held last weekend north of Bucharest.
Several sympathizers commemorated fascist interwar leader Corneliu Zelea Codreanu in the village of Tâncăbeşti on Sunday, the place where he and others were assassinated 87 years ago.
His Legionnaire organization killed Jews and Roma and carried out political assassinations around World War II.
The commemoration has been held annually, since 1994, on the spot where Codreanu and 14 other legionnaires were assassinated on the night of November 29-30, 1938.
The extremist leader was executed on the orders of King Carol II, along with 13 other party colleagues who were responsible for the assassination of Prime Minister Ion .G. Duca (killed by the Iron Guard at Sinaia railway station in 1933).
Serban Suru, the self-proclaimed leader of the Legionnaire movement, made a political speech praising Codreanu, Hotnews reported.
Although such public manifestations have been illegal since 2002, they have still been held without legal consequences.
The Institute said its appeal came in the context of “the rise of hate speech and extremist manifestations in the public space”.
It added such a demonstration “calls into question the memory of the victims of the Holocaust in Romania and undermines existing legislation.”
A 2002 law prohibits fascist, legionary, racist or xenophobic organizations, symbols and deeds, as well as the promotion of the cult of persons guilty of genocide and war crimes.
“In the last year, the Romanian society has witnessed the rise of hate speech and extremist manifestations in the public space. This reality calls into question the memory of the victims of the Holocaust in Romania, promotes the symbols and elite of the Legionary Movement, as well as people convicted of war crimes,” the statement said.
It was addressed to the Interior Ministry and the Public Ministry, was signed by Director General Alexandru Florian.
The Institute said that in the first half of 2025 the Prosecutor’s Office and police had prosecuted several people under the law. Some 14 people were sent to trial.
It cited a commemoration in the same place a year ago at Codreanu’s shrine where some participants made the Nazi salute.
“We ask you to speed up the analysis, with appropriate tools, of the events that took place in the public space, on November 30, in the town of Tâncăbeşti, in Ilfov County,” the press release said.
During the ceremony and Suru’s speech, police partially blocked on the major artery from the mountains to Bucharest.
Government Emergency Ordinance no. 31/2002 prohibits organizations with a fascist, legionary, racist or xenophobic character, as well as the creation of symbols and the promotion of the cult of persons guilty of crimes against peace and humanity.
It also prohibits the naming of people guilty of crimes of genocide against humanity and war crimes in streets, squares, parks or other public places.
