Genocide charge for Romanian who ran communist prison
Romanian prosecutors have charged a communist-era prison commander, Alexander Visinescu, with genocide. ● It is the first such charge in Romania since the 1989 revolution which led to the execution of former communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu. Mr Visinescu, 88, could face life in prison if found guilty. He was head of the Ramnicu Sarat prison in 1956-1963. Prosecutors say political prisoners there suffered beatings, hunger, cold and lack of medical treatment. Mr Visinescu lives in Bucharest and went to the prosecutor-general's office on Tuesday, where he was indicted. He told prosecutors he was only following orders. Former political prisoners, quoted by the Romanian news agency Agerpres, described him as "a very cruel man".