Prosecutors in Romania are taking former presidential candidate Calin Georgescu to court, accusing him of plotting a coup after the cancellation of his election victory. The charges, announced by General Prosecutor Alex Florenta, allege that Georgescu and 21 others were involved in planning to instigate violence following the annulment of his 2024 first-round presidential win.
Georgescu, a former UN official, won the November 2024 election with a platform centered on national sovereignty, criticism of NATO and EU alignment, and opposition to continued military aid for Ukraine. However, his victory was nullified by the Constitutional Court, which cited irregularities in his campaign and alleged Russian interference, a claim Moscow has denied. The annulment led to a re-election in May, which was won by pro-EU candidate Nicusor Dan.
The investigation reportedly uncovered evidence that Georgescu held a secret meeting with Horatiu Potra, a military contractor with ties to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to prosecutor Florenta, the meeting led to the organization of a paramilitary group armed with weapons and explosives. Potra was later detained by traffic police en route to Bucharest with these individuals.
Georgescu has denied any wrongdoing, stating that the accusations are politically motivated. The trial date has not yet been set, adding to the ongoing uncertainty in Romanian politics. Florenta also highlighted a broader pattern of hybrid attacks by Russia, including cyberattacks, public events, and online disinformation, over the past year.
In response to the accusations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the claims as baseless, drawing a parallel to past allegations of Russian interference in U.S. elections, which were later retracted. This incident has further intensified the debate over foreign influence in Romanian politics, with implications for both national security and international relations.