Prison Releases Ceausescu’s Adopted Son

The adopted son of former Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was released from prison Friday for the first time since the December revolution that led to the overthrow of his father and the execution of both his parents.

Valentin Ceausescu, unlike his playboy younger brother, Nicu, stayed away from politics and held no special rank during his father’s oppressive 25-year rule. He still faces trial next month on a minor charge of failing to pay rent for state-owned housing.

He was released from prison one day after a military tribunal rejected a prosecution attempt to keep him behind bars until his trial, the official news agency Rompres said.

The prosecutor’s office said the spouses of the dictator’s two natural children would be released from prison today.

Relatives of the former president were imprisoned after the December uprising that led to the executions of Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife, Elena.

Nicu Ceausescu, 39, the dictator’s youngest son and onetime heir apparent, is being tried on genocide charges stemming from his actions as Communist Party boss in the Transylvanian city of Sibiu.

Valentin led a quiet private life before the revolution and was known mostly for his interest in sports. His onetime tennis partner, the former international tennis star Ilie Nastase, made a public appeal for his release earlier this year.