Râmnicu Sărat penitentiary proposed for conversion into communist era memorial

Marcel Ciolacu, President of the Buzău County Council, has expressed interest in restoring the former Râmnicu Sărat penitentiary to transform it into a memorial dedicated to the victims of communism. The facility, known as the ‘Prison of Silence’, was one of the most severe political detention sites during the communist era in Romania.

Discussions are currently underway regarding the project's financing and management. Ciolacu suggested that the Buzău County Council could manage the project directly, noting that local administration might offer a more cost-effective co-financing model—approximately 2% plus ineligible expenses—compared to the higher costs associated with central agency management.

Efforts are also being made to secure European funding. In 2022, the Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes and the Memory of the Romanian Exile (IICCMER) announced the approval of approximately 9 million euros through the PNRR for the rehabilitation and modernization of the memorial.