Călin Georgescu, who unexpectedly won the first circular of the cancelled presidential election in November 2024, was detained and interrogated by the prosecution," announced Romanian tv Antena 3.
His staff condemned this movement, identifying it as an attack on democracy and an effort to prevent his re-candidacy in repeated presidential elections scheduled for May 2025. AUR leader, George Simion, accused the service of abuse of power, suggesting that the detention was intended to block Georgesc's registration as a candidate in repeated elections to take place in May.
During a large-scale safety operation, they conducted 47 searches throughout Romania from this morning, detaining 27 persons associated with Georgesc. Among them was his head of safety Horațiu Potra, a erstwhile mercenary, who is suspected of being in contact with the Russian Wagner Group.
In his house, they found:
large amounts of cash,
firearms and ammunition,
an air ticket to Moscow from September 2024,
materials indicating contacts with mercenaries operating in Sudan.
The investigation conducted by the Romanian prosecutor's office includes serious allegations, including:
actions against the constitutional order,
illicit possession of weapons and ammunition,
public incitement to hatred,
the creation of fascist, racist and xenophobic organisations,
promoting those guilty of war crimes and genocide,
spreading fascist and xenophobic ideas.
Potra was to travel repeatedly to Russia and Africa in fresh years, and the investigation focuses on its links with global paramilitary networks. The second key figure retained by the service is Marin Burcea, a erstwhile soldier of the abroad Legion, known by the nickname "Snapper". According to the investigation, his business partner, Dorina Mihai, had close contacts with Chechen soldiers associated with Ramzan Kadyrov and Russian general Zamid Aliewicz Chalayev. On her social media: commendable posts on Vladimir Putin, photos of Chechen militants, evidence of contacts with pro-Russian paramilitary organizations.
Over the last fewer months, Romania has become an arena for the fast expansion of groups that advocate closer cooperation with Russia. According to polls, groups representing these views can number on a full of up to 25% of the votes of the Romanian electorate. The strongest organization in this camp is the Union for Romanian Unity (AUR), which presently has about 20% of support. This organization has become the main alternate to the conventional right, ahead of the incumbent National-Liberal organization (PNL) and competing for a second position with the Social Democratic organization (PSD), which inactive remains the country's largest group. S.O.S. România, a group that openly sympathizes with Russia and advocates a policy of neutrality towards the war in Ukraine, is besides gaining importance. The organization enjoys support of about 6% and attracts voters mainly through anti-EU rhetoric and criticism of NATO.
Călin Georgescu won 22.94% of the vote, unexpectedly winning the first circular of presidential elections at the end of last year, which were subsequently annulled by the Constitutional Court. According to intelligence reports, the Russian Federation actively supported his campaign, using: TikTok's manipulation of algorithms to advance pro-Russian content, illegal run funding, usage of Russian and Chechen propaganda channels, effort to destabilise Romania's political stableness and its relations with the EU and NATO.
Romania faces 1 of the biggest political crises in its modern history, especially as voters are not convinced of Georgesc's guilt. The polls presently give him 35 to 40 % of the vote. The ongoing increase in support is besides explained as a form of opposition to the interference of the EU institutions in the home affairs of the country.
