PHOTOS: 25 Years since Romanian communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and wife’s execution
December 24, 2014
Men hold a picture of Romanian communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and a communist era Romanian national flag they call 'a treasure' as communism nostalgics gather around his grave in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, 25 years after he and his wife Elena were executed by firing squad on Christmas day 1989. Romanians, especially those of a more senior age, have mixed feelings about the former dictator and his rule, 25 years after his execution, with many remembering predominantly the positive aspects, like the social security, of the communist times and not focusing on the extreme economic hardships and lack of basic human rights of that period. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) ( Romania Ceausescu Execution 25 years )
A cassette player airs a recording of the last speech, on Dec. 21, 2014, by Romanian communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu as communism nostalgics gather around his grave in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, 25 years after he and his wife Elena were executed by firing squad on Christmas day 1989. Romanians, especially those of a more senior age, have mixed feelings about the former dictator and his rule, 25 years after his execution, with many remembering predominantly the positive aspects, like the social security, of the communist times and not focusing on the extreme economic hardships and lack of basic human rights of that period, like freedom of movement or speech. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) ( Romania Ceausescu Execution 25 years )
Media, rivaling in numbers the communism nostalgics, crowd around the grave of Romanian communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, 25 years after he and his wife Elena were executed by firing squad on Christmas day 1989. Romanians, especially those of a more senior age, have mixed feelings about the former dictator and his rule, 25 years after his execution, with many remembering predominantly the positive aspects, like the social security, of the communist times and not focusing on the extreme economic hardships and lack of basic human rights of that period. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) ( Romania Ceausescu Execution 25 years )
A picture taken on Dec. 15, 2014 shows telephones, including the infamous red one, the direct line to the higher ranking communist authorities, in the commander's office at the military garrison, turned museum, in Targoviste, Romania, where Romanian communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena spent their final days before being executed on Dec. 25, 1989. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) ( Romania Ceausescu Execution 25 years )
A picture taken on Dec. 15, 2014 shows the desk, top right, at the military garrison, turned museum, in Targoviste, Romania, where Romanian communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena sat during their trial before being executed on Dec. 25, 1989. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) ( Romania Ceausescu Execution 25 years )
A picture taken on Dec. 15, 2014 shows telephones, including the infamous red one, the direct line to the higher ranking communist authorities, in the commander's office, at the military garrison, turned museum, in Targoviste, Romania, where Romanian communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena spent their final days before being executed on Dec. 25, 1989. Romanians, especially those of a more senior age, have mixed feelings about the former dictator and his rule, 25 years after his execution, with many remembering predominantly the positive aspects, like the social security, of the communist times and not focusing on the extreme economic hardships and lack of basic human rights of that period, like freedom of movement or speech.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) ( Romania Ceausescu Execution 25 years )
A picture taken on Dec. 15, 2014 shows the room at the military garrison, turned museum, in Targoviste, Romania, where Romanian communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena spent their final days before being executed on Dec. 25, 1989. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) ( Romania Ceausescu Execution 25 years )
A picture taken on Dec. 15, 2014 shows a man walking by the room at the military garrison, turned museum, in Targoviste, Romania, where Romanian communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena spent their final days before being executed on Dec. 25, 1989. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) ( Romania Ceausescu Execution 25 years )
A picture taken on Dec. 15, 2014 shows the military garrison, turned museum, in Targoviste, Romania, where Romanian communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena sat during their trial before being executed on Dec. 25, 1989. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) ( Romania Ceausescu Execution 25 years )
A picture taken on Dec. 15, 2014 shows a plaque marking the place, at a military garrison in Targoviste, Romania, where communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena were executed by firing squad on Dec. 25, 1989. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) ( Romania Ceausescu Execution 25 years )
A picture taken on Dec. 15, 2014 shows the wall, at a military garrison in Targoviste, Romania, where communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena were executed by firing squad on Dec. 25, 1989. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) ( Romania Ceausescu Execution 25 years )
A picture taken on Dec. 7, 2014 shows a porcelain piggybank representing communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, next to legendary ancient and medieval kings representations on sale in the duty free shop of the Henri Coanda international airport in Otopeni, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) ( Romania Ceausescu Execution 25 years )
A picture taken on Dec. 15, 2014 shows a book carrying the portrait of Romanian communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu at the military garrison, turned museum, in Targoviste, Romania, where he and his wife Elena were executed on Dec. 25, 1989. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) ( Romania Ceausescu Execution 25 years )
A picture taken on Dec. 15, 2014 shows books and magazines, either about or allegedly authored by communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, at the military garrison, turned museum, in Targoviste, Romania, where he and his wife Elena spent their final days before being executed on Dec. 25, 1989. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) ( Romania Ceausescu Execution 25 years )
A picture taken on Dec. 15, 2014 shows books and magazines, either about or allegedly authored by communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, at the military garrison, turned museum, in Targoviste, Romania, where he and his wife Elena spent their final days before being executed on Dec. 25, 1989.Title reads "Romania's and Nicolae Ceausescu's contribution to the fight for disarmament and peace". (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) ( Romania Ceausescu Execution 25 years )
A picture taken on Dec. 15, 2014 shows books and magazines, either about or allegedly authored by communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, at the military garrison, turned museum, in Targoviste, Romania, where he and his wife Elena spent their final days before being executed on Dec. 25, 1989. Title reads "The revolutionary youth of comrade Nicolae Ceausescu". (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) ( Romania Ceausescu Execution 25 years )
A picture taken on Dec. 15, 2014 shows books and magazines, either about or allegedly authored by communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, at the military garrison, turned museum, in Targoviste, Romania, where he and his wife Elena spent their final days before being executed on Dec. 25, 1989. Title reads "Romania-Ceausescu-Peace". (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) ( Romania Ceausescu Execution 25 years )
A picture taken on Dec. 15, 2014 shows books and magazines, either about or allegedly authored by communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, at the military garrison, turned museum, in Targoviste, Romania, where he and his wife Elena spent their final days before being executed on Dec. 25, 1989. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) ( Romania Ceausescu Execution 25 years )
A picture taken on Dec. 15, 2014 shows a monument by tombstones carrying names of Romanian military personnel killed in fighting around the Otopeni airport during the anticommunist uprising 25 years ago, outside Bucharest, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) ( Romania Ceausescu Execution 25 years )
A picture taken on Dec. 15, 2014 shows a monument by tombstones carrying names of Romanian military personnel killed in fighting around the Otopeni airport during the anticommunist uprising 25 years ago, outside Bucharest, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) ( Romania Ceausescu Execution 25 years )
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