Radu (codename)
Encyclopedia
Radu was, according to Ion Mihai Pacepa
, the codename for a radiological weapon
used against dissenters and critics by Nicolae Ceauşescu
's Securitate
. "Radu" is a Romanian name and in this context it is a reference to "radiation". The weapon was intended to lead to cancer which would result in death within months after the exposure.
According to Pacepa, it was created by the Securitate's "Service K" in spring 1970, using radioactive materials it received from the KGB
. The Romanian "Service K", founded in 1950s by the Soviets using the KGB model, was in charge of the dirty work against jailed prisoners which they considered dangerous for the regime. This included monitoring them with microphones and trying to frame them by inducing them into making incriminating statements. The service was also in charge of killing them and making it appear like a suicide or natural death.
Historian Mihai Pelin claimed in a book on Radio Free Europe
, Meliţa şi Eterul, that there was no such weapon, but others, such as RFE journalist Nestor Ratesh argue that Pelin also claimed the Securitate was not involved in the RFE bombing, but eventually it turned out that they were the ones who hired Carlos the Jackal
for this job.
Critics of Ceauşescu who died of cancer and are suspected to have been irradiated by the Securitatea include:
Ion Mihai Pacepa
Ion Mihai Pacepa is the highest-ranking intelligence official ever to have defected from the former Eastern Bloc. He is now a United States citizen, a writer, and a columnist....
, the codename for a radiological weapon
Radiological weapon
A radiological weapon or radiological dispersion device is any weapon that is designed to spread radioactive material with the intent to kill, and cause disruption upon a city or nation....
used against dissenters and critics by Nicolae Ceauşescu
Nicolae Ceausescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...
's Securitate
Securitate
The Securitate was the secret police agency of Communist Romania. Previously, the Romanian secret police was called Siguranţa Statului. Founded on August 30, 1948, with help from the Soviet NKVD, the Securitate was abolished in December 1989, shortly after President Nicolae Ceaușescu was...
. "Radu" is a Romanian name and in this context it is a reference to "radiation". The weapon was intended to lead to cancer which would result in death within months after the exposure.
According to Pacepa, it was created by the Securitate's "Service K" in spring 1970, using radioactive materials it received from the KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
. The Romanian "Service K", founded in 1950s by the Soviets using the KGB model, was in charge of the dirty work against jailed prisoners which they considered dangerous for the regime. This included monitoring them with microphones and trying to frame them by inducing them into making incriminating statements. The service was also in charge of killing them and making it appear like a suicide or natural death.
Historian Mihai Pelin claimed in a book on Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a broadcaster funded by the U.S. Congress that provides news, information, and analysis to countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East "where the free flow of information is either banned by government authorities or not fully developed"...
, Meliţa şi Eterul, that there was no such weapon, but others, such as RFE journalist Nestor Ratesh argue that Pelin also claimed the Securitate was not involved in the RFE bombing, but eventually it turned out that they were the ones who hired Carlos the Jackal
Carlos the Jackal
Ilich Ramírez Sánchez , better known as Carlos the Jackal, is a Venezuelan pro-Palestinian currently serving a life sentence in France for shooting to death two French secret agents and a Lebanese informer in 1975....
for this job.
Critics of Ceauşescu who died of cancer and are suspected to have been irradiated by the Securitatea include:
- Noel BernardNoël BernardNoel Bernard was a Romanian journalist, known for being the head of the Romanian-language department of Radio Free Europe...
, head of the Romanian-language department of Radio Free EuropeRadio Free EuropeRadio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a broadcaster funded by the U.S. Congress that provides news, information, and analysis to countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East "where the free flow of information is either banned by government authorities or not fully developed"...
. - Vlad GeorgescuVlad GeorgescuVlad Georgescu , Romanian historian, was the director of the Romanian-language department of Radio Free Europe between 1983 and 1988.-Biography:...
, head of the Romanian-language department of Radio Free Europe. - Mihai Cizmărescu, head of the Romanian-language department of Radio Free Europe.
- Emil Georgescu, journalist at the Radio Free Europe.
- Amza PelleaAmza PelleaAmza Pellea was one of the most important Romanian actors, being remarked both for his theatre and his film acting.Born in Băileşti, in Oltenia, he attended the Carol I High School...
, Romanian actor