(Reuters) -Romania’s former President Ion Iliescu, who led its transition from communism and set it on the path to European Union and NATO membership, but faced charges of crimes against humanity for violently suppressing protests in the 1990s, died on Tuesday aged 95.

Iliescu had been admitted to hospital with lung cancer roughly two months ago. The government said he would receive a state funeral.

“History will judge Ion Iliescu, the main figure of the 1990s transition,” said current President Nicusor Dan.

Iliescu went from a rising member of Romania’s Communist Party to a leader of the bloody December 1989 revolution – which toppled dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and led to his summary execution on Christmas Day – to become the first freely elected president.

At the height of his popula

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