Victor Atanasie Stănculescu (10 May 1928 – 19 June 2016) was a Romanian general during the Communist era. He played a central role in the overthrow of the dictatorship by refusing to carry out the orders of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu during the Romanian Revolution of December 1989. His inaction allowed the citizens demonstrating in Bucharest against the government to seize control. In addition, as a defense minister on 25 December 1989, Stanculescu organized the trial and execution of Ceaușescu and his wife, Elena Ceaușescu. In 2008, Stănculescu and another general, former Interior Minister Mihai Chițac, were convicted of aggravated manslaughter by the Supreme Court for the shooting deaths of pro-democracy protesters in Timișoara, during the Romanian Revolution of 1989. Sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment, he was freed in 2014. He died in 2016 at age 88. His remains were cremated at the . References 1928 births 2016 deaths People from Tecuci Romanian generals Romanian communists Romanian Ministers of Defence Romanian people convicted of manslaughter People of the Romanian Revolution Prisoners and detainees of Romania Romanian prisoners and detainees Carol I National Defence University alumni