In Timisoara, one of Romania's most important cities, the detention of Pastor Laszlo Tokes, an activist of the Hungarian minority and a strong opponent of the communist regime, triggered a popular revolt on December 17, with the city's residents already stirred by the news coming from other countries.

On December 10, the Reformed pastor László Tőkés announced to his parishioners that the militia would expel him on the 15th of the same month, as he had learned he would be transferred from Timisoara to a parish in the village of Mineu in the Sălaj region. Tőkés asked his parishioners to support him in his attempt to oppose the expulsion. The Securitate, Ceausescu's oppressive apparatus, forcefully suppressed the protesters in the cities, opening fire in an action that left dozens dead in one of Romania's bloodiest crackdowns that year.