Weekly overview in pictures: Final sentences issued in Colectiv case | High turnout for Night of Museums | Center for Ukrainian children opens in Bucharest
Two high profile cases came to a conclusion last week when final sentences were handed out in the 2015 Colectiv club fire file and in the corruption trial against former Bucharest mayor Sorin Oprescu. Meanwhile, as cultural events are…
Simona Fodor · Journalist
· Updated · 4 min read
Two high profile cases came to a conclusion last week when final sentences were handed out in the 2015 Colectiv club fire file and in the corruption trial against former Bucharest mayor Sorin Oprescu. Meanwhile, as cultural events are making a comeback after two years of pandemic restrictions, the public all over the country turned out in high numbers for the Night of Museums. More of the May 9 – May 15 week’s highlights in photos below.
One event that made the headlines last week was the final sentence served to District 5 mayor Cristian Popescu Piedone in the file concerning the 2015 fire at Colectiv club. After six years of court proceedings, the Bucharest Court of Appeal sentenced Piedone to four years in jail for his indirect responsibility in the Colectiv fire of October 30, 2015. Sixty-four people died following a fire that erupted during a rock concert that was taking place at the club. The club didn’t have all the required legal permits and didn’t comply with fire safety regulations. The final sentence is lower than the initial conviction ruled by the Bucharest Court for Piedone, which was eight and a half years. Piedone was the mayor of Bucharest’s District 4 from 2008 until November 2015, when he resigned due to public pressure following the Colectiv fire.
Jail sentences were also issued for the club owners, the two technicians who set up the fireworks at the rock concert, and the two firefighters who were supposed to have checked the club met all the safety regulations.
Also last week, former Bucharest mayor Sorin Oprescu was sentenced to 10 years and eight months in jail for corruption. He was charged with bribery, setting up an organized criminal group and abuse of office. The decision of the Bucharest Court of Appeal is final. It is also higher than the initial conviction of 5 years and four months ruled in May 2019. The former mayor has been added to the list of fugitives wanted by the Romanian Police as Police officers could not locate him after the Court’s decision.
This year’s edition of the Night of Museums, the yearly event that sees museums and other cultural venues open their doors to visitors at night, attracted a high number of visitors. It was the first post-pandemic edition organized without any restrictions, and the public enjoyed the many options available.
