of 1989, that saw the dismantlement of the communist regime, poet Ana Blandiana presented in January 1993 to the Council of Europe a project to transform the former prison into a museum, called the "Memorial to the Victims of Communism and Resistance." On June 20, 1997, the first halls were opened and a prayer and silence space was inaugurated in the small prison courtyard, meant as a tribute to all political prisoners who died in detention in Communist Romania. The larger courtyard features the statuary group called "Sacrifice Parade," made by the sculptor . Notable inmates Constantin Argetoianu, former Prime Minister of Romania, died at Sighet in 1955 Victor Bădulescu, economist, academician, died at Sighet in 1953–54 Ioan Bălan, Greek-Catholic bishop of Lugoj Dinu Brătianu, politician and historian, committed suicide in prison in 1951 Gheorghe I. Brătianu, politician and historian, leader of the National-Liberal Party-Brătianu, died at Sighet in 1953 Radu Budișteanu, lawyer, politician, and activist of the Iron Guard Ion Cămărășescu, politician, died at Sighet in 1953 Nicolae Carandino, journalist and politician Tit Liviu Chinezu, bishop of the Greek-Catholic Church, died at Sighet in 1955 of hypothermia Daniel Ciugureanu, Prime minister of the Moldavian Democratic Republic, died at Sighet in 1950 Tancred Constantinescu, engineer, former minister, died at Sighet in 1951 Corneliu Coposu, former secretary to Iuliu Maniu, leader of the National Peasants' Party after 1989 Ioan Dragomir, bishop of the Greek-Catholic Church Anton Durcovici, Roman Catholic bishop of Iași, died of forced starvation at Sighet in 1951 Valeriu Traian Frențiu, Greek Catholic Bishop of the Eparchy of Oradea Mare, died at Sighet in 1952 Stan Ghițescu, Vice-President of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania (1926), former Minister of Labor, died at Sighet in 1952 Constantin C. Giurescu, historian, professor at the University of Bucharest, Royal Governor 1939, Lower Danube Province, Minister of Propaganda 1939–1940 Ion Gruia, professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Bucharest, former Minister of Justice, died at Sighet in 1952 Pan Halippa, president of Sfatul Țării when it voted union of Bessarabia with Romania in 1918 Emil Hațieganu, former Minister of State Iuliu Hossu, Greek-Catholic bishop of Cluj-Gherla Alexandru Lapedatu, professor of History at the University of Cluj, former Cults and Arts Minister and State Minister, former president of the Romanian Academy and of the Senate of Romania, died at Sighet in 1950 Ilie Lazăr, leader of the National Peasants' Party Ioan Lupaș, professor