Teodor Brateș

Teodor Brateş (born Froim Bernard on 5 March 1933 in Bucharest) is a Romanian former radio (1949–1953, 1956–1958) and television journalist (1965–1990). He is best known for his role in the broadcasts during the Romanian Revolution.

Career He began work in 1947 as a mechanical assistant in Bucharest's "23 August" factories.

Radio In 1949, he became an editor at the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company. He attended the A. A. Jdanov Upper School of Social Sciences from 1953 to 1956, and on graduating was rehired at Romanian Radio. They dismissed him in 1958 upon learning that his stepfather had been arrested in 1947 and Brateş had not disclosed that information.

He received the on , "the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the proclamation of the Romanian People's Republic, for outstanding merits in work".

After his dismissal, Brateş worked in the "9 May" workshops for a year before transferring to the National Council of Trade Unions, where he served as editor-in-chief for the factory newspaper.

Television In 1965, Brateş began work as an editor with Romanian Public Television, completing his education by correspondence. He graduated in 1967, and became the assistant chief editor of the news department in 1969. He did not earn his journalist's certification until 1976.

He stayed on air for nearly 70 hours during the December 1989 Revolution, from the 22nd through the 24th. He was also the one who announced Nicolae Ceaușescu's arrest on 25 December.

Indictment On 18 April 2018, the General Prosecutor's Office indicted Brateș on charges of crimes against humanity, claiming that he was the main disseminator of fake news between 22–31 December 1989. The case against him was closed in 2019.

Political affiliation Brateş joined the Romanian Communist Party in 1955 as Froim Bernard. Of Jewish descent, he changed his name to Teodor Brateş in 1956.

Works Teodor Brateş, Explozia unei clipe. O zi in studioul 4 (English: "The Explosion of Moments, a Day in Studio 4"), 22 December 1989 (Bucuresti, Scripta, 1992) Trilogia Revoluţiei Române în Direct (English: Trilogy of the Romanian Revolution), 3 volumes, 1500 pg., ed. Ager-Economistul, 2004.