Memorial to Monica Lovinescu and Virgil Ierunca

On 17 December 2023, a statute was inaugurated in Cotroceni, Romania, to the memory of two Radio Free Europe legends, Monica Lovinescu and Virgil Ierunca, who worked in Paris for the Romanian BD.

On November 21, 1977, Monica Lovinescu was beaten at her home in Paris. She spent four days in a hospital.The two men were never found.

President of Romania Traian Basescu said before the Parliament of Romania on December 18, 2006: "To the despair of the communist regime, Radio Free Europe was indeed what it set out to be—the speaking newspaper for Romanians everywhere. I do homage to the memory of Ghita Ionescu, Mihai Cismarescu, Noel Bernard, and Vlad Georgescu, men who fought with altruism and passion for the knowledge and utterance of the truth. I extol Monica Lovinescu and Virgil Ierunca, who, while physically in exile, continued to live daily for the Romanian people, keeping awake, through their unforgettable Free Europe broadcasts, the moral conscience of Romanians."

Virgil Ierunca died on September 28, 2006. Monica Lovinescu died on April 20, 2008.  

RFE/RL published a commentary on its internet page in April 2008: "Why does Monica Lovinescu matter?"

https://www.rferl.org/a/1109625.html