Varujan Pambuccian: Iliescu - a controversial figure who did both good and evil

The leader of the Chamber of Deputies' national minorities group Varujan Pambuccian declared on Tuesday that former President Ion Iliescu was a controversial figure who did both good and evil.

"I first learned about him from 'Free Europe' radio broadcasts during Ceausescu's time. After that, I participated in all the rallies against him. He is a controversial figure and, of course, the fact that a man died cannot make me feel good, although I got punched by his miners. It makes me sad. I think he was a figure who did both good and evil and I don't think he was driven by bad ideas, but he did evil too. That's it. He was educated in a certain period, that was his creed," Pambuccian declared for AGERPRES.

He recalled that the first massive demonstration against Iliescu was in January 1990.

"I participated, in Victoriei Square, and after that I was there at all rallies. I don't know if this had any effect or not. I was extremely angry when he turned against King Mihai, but he later corrected this error. As a politician he was truly skilled, he knew what to do for himself and his in-group, less so for us. I try not to harbor resentment because this is about someone's death and these things must be treated without bitterness. Speak no ill of the dead," Varujan Pambuccian concluded.

Former President Ion Iliescu died on Tuesday at the age of 95. He had been hospitalized since early June at the 'Prof. Dr. Agrippa Ionescu' Emergency Clinical Hospital, having been diagnosed with lung cancer.