Romanian authorities accuse a previous pro-Russian presidential contender of criminal charges
In a significant turn of events, Romanian prosecutors have sent Calin Georgescu, a pro-Russian far-right frontrunner, to trial on charges of attempting to disrupt national security. The trial comes after the presidential election in Romania was canceled in December due to suspected Russian interference in favour of Georgescu.
Georgescu, a strong critic of NATO, Brussels, and Western support for Ukraine, was banned from running again and placed under investigation in two cases. According to prosecutors, he benefited from intensive online campaigns and was promoted on over 40 online groups known to spread disinformation, with a total of 1.3 million members.
The alleged conspiracies surrounding Georgescu extend beyond the digital sphere. Prosecutors allege that Horatiu Potra, a former French Foreign Legion soldier and mercenary who had previously worked as a military contractor in the Democratic Republic of Congo, formed a paramilitary group of 21 people after a covert meeting with Georgescu. The group, according to prosecutors, intended to travel to Bucharest and trigger protests against rule of law institutions.
Prosecutor General Alex Florenta stated that these hybrid attacks focused on extremist groups and amplified hate speech narratives consistent with Russian propaganda in Romania. The campaign, prosecutors say, aimed to destabilize Romania and was linked to pro-Russian groups.
Despite the allegations, Moscow has denied involvement in the alleged attacks and accusations of meddling in the Romanian presidential election. This is not the first time similar hybrid attacks have occurred, as they have also been reported in the Czech Republic and Poland.
In contrast to Georgescu, Nicusor Dan ultimately won the re-run of the presidential election in May as a pro-European centrist. The trial date for Georgescu remains unclear.
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