Eugen Țurcanu

Who was Eugen Țurcanu?

Eugen Țurcanu, Romanian political prisoner, was executed for his role in the Pitești Experiment. Initially sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for his membership in the Iron Guard, Țurcanu became the leader of a group of detainees whose role was to mistreat and torture other inmates, in order to "re-educate" them in the spirit of Marxism-Leninism and obtain information that could be used by the Communist organs of repression. Although initially, his activities were at least tolerated, if not encouraged or directed by the regime, once information about what was happening inside Romanian prisons reached the West, he was investigated, tried and sentenced to die for his deeds.