politics
March 24, 2026
Romanian railway worker who was stronger than NATO
Pancevo – It was June 3, 1999, the bombing of the cities and villages of the FR Yugoslavia was at its peak, when a train loaded with military equipment and NATO troops entered from Hungary deep into Romanian territory, to the small railway station Pielești, intending to speed towards military post 01820, Craiova base. About fifteen kilometers from the city, near the destination, a man who was doing his job stood in its way – station master Florin Patoroci.
TL;DR
- Florin Patoroci, a Romanian railway station master, stopped a NATO military train on June 3, 1999, due to incomplete transport documents.
- He faced pressure from Romanian authorities and even the Minister of Transport, Traian Băsescu, who threatened to dismiss him.
- Patoroci refused to allow the train to proceed until all seals and stamps were in order, causing an 11-hour delay.
- A week later, he stopped the same train again due to discrepancies in the number of wagons and missing transport fees.
- Despite threats and an investigation, Patoroci was not fired and was later offered a bonus, eventually retiring with full honors.
- He explained his actions were based on following the law, a suspicion of a 'Trojan horse', and his disapproval of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.
- Patoroci was recently awarded the coat of arms of the Republic of Serbia for his bravery and professionalism during the NATO aggression on Yugoslavia.
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