BUCHAREST — 1990 · Major Tragedy

The June 1990 Mineriad

Under InvestigationSources: ALast updated: 14 October 2026

On 13-15 June 1990, just six months after the 1989 revolution, weeks of anti-government protests in Bucharest's University Square were violently crushed. Miners brought by train from the Jiu Valley, together with Interior Ministry forces, attacked protesters, students and opposition institutions. According to prosecutors, four people were killed, two were sexually assaulted, more than 1,300 were injured and over 1,200 were unlawfully detained. A crimes-against-humanity case against senior officials of the time was filed in 2017, returned to prosecutors on procedural grounds in 2020, and sent to court again in 2025.

Date: 1990
Place: University Square, Romania, Bucharest, RO
Category: Major Tragedy
Case Status: Under Investigation
Coordinates: 44.4355, 26.1020 ↗

Timeline of Events

April-June 1990An anti-government sit-in continued in University Square.
13-15 June 1990Miners and security forces attacked protesters; four were killed.
June 2017Former leaders were sent to trial for crimes against humanity.

December 2020The High Court returned the case over procedural errors.
2025The case was sent to court again.

Sources

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