The trial and execution of Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife, Elena, followed a series of events that unfolded during the Romanian Revolution, which erupted in December 1989. The public discontent had reached a boiling point due to years of authoritarian rule, economic hardship, and widespread corruption. Mass protests began as a response to the government's attempt to forcibly remove a Hungarian pastor from Timișoara, which led to violent clashes and ultimately spiraled into national unrest. The regime's security forces fired upon civilians, escalating the revolution.

As protests spread across Romania, the Ceaușescus fled Bucharest amidst growing chaos and civil disobedience. They were captured by the military on December 22 and brought to trial before a hastily convened military tribunal on Christmas Day. The trial lasted less than three hours, during which both were accused of crimes against the state, including genocide. The trial's summary proceedings were criticized for lacking judicial fairness, but they concluded with a swift conviction and death sentence for both.

Shortly after their conviction, the Ceaușescus were executed by firing squad. Their deaths symbolized the end of an oppressive regime that had lasted for over four decades and marked a significant turning point in Romania's transition towards democracy. The execution was broadcast on Romanian television, shocking many and affirming the complete breakdown of the old regime. Their deaths ignited complex debates about justice and accountability in post-revolutionary Romania, impacting the political landscape for decades to come.