Romanian Ex Miner Riot Leader Released From Prison

Cozma said that he went to prison because he did his duty as union leader.

"I have been incarcerated for ten years because I did my duty as union leader. In a European country it is almost unbelievable that there are still innocent union leaders in prison, just because they did their duty," Cozma said upon leaving the penitentiary.

He stated that "the Cozma spirit" cannot be "tied" and that he has not faded away, adding that Romania has become the most corrupt country in Europe.

"I had the courage to face the corrupt politicians in this country and to fight for the rights of the many who are honest workers in this country. It would seem that these corrupt politicians managed, in these past ten years – a sad performance for Romania might I add – to become the most corrupt country in Europe. And believe me, I come from jail, I do not know any corrupt politicians in jail," Cozma said.

He then rhetorically asked the journalists if they saw any such politicians in jail.

Asked about what he would do from now on, Cozma saud that he is "a strong man." Paraphrasing philosopher Nietzsche and stating that: "What does not kill you makes you stronger."

"If they think they defeated me they are wrong and as I said before: the spirit of Miron Cozma cannot be bound, the spirit of Miron Cozma is the spirit of the true Romanian people, who are working, who knows how to fight for a just cause and, if corrupt politicians think they can defeat it, they are wrong," said the former miner riot leader.

Cozma said that "at the moment, he is preparing to calm down, to meet his children and his family," and then he would see.

After talking to the press, Cozma hugged lawyer Adrian Roşeţi, then they both got in a Peugeot car, where they exchanged words, and the former convict signed some documents. Later, the lawyer a got out of the car and Cozma left for Timisoara.

Miron Cozma is banned, over a period of five years, from entering Bucharest and Petroşani. He commented this complementary measure ruled by the supreme court in February 1999, when he was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment because of the miner riots in September 1991, which led to the fall of the Petre Roman Government.

Cozma said that there is a precedent in the European Court at Strasbourg regarding the violation of the right to free circulation, so he intends to challenge the ban.

"I might be able to understand the Petroşani ban. But why Bucharest? Are they afraid of me?," Cozma said.