Calin Georgescu, a former presidential candidate from Romania, has been charged with attempting to instigate a coup following the annulment of the first round of the presidential election last December. Alongside Georgescu, Horatiu Potra, a former French legionnaire and militia leader in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and 20 other individuals have also been charged.
The charges are linked to a planned raid in Bucharest on December 8, which law enforcement agencies successfully prevented. Prosecutors allege that the plot aimed to undermine Romania’s constitutional order, implicating Georgescu, Potra, and their associates, along with suspected connections to foreign intelligence.
Potra and others are accused of initiating the coup, while Georgescu faces charges of conspiracy linked to Potra. Reports indicate that Georgescu met with Potra and other members of his group shortly after his election victory was annulled. Initially, Georgescu denied the meeting occurred, but he later acknowledged it after photographic evidence emerged, although he maintains that discussions about an insurrection did not take place.
In February, police conducted raids in various locations across Romania, uncovering weapons, gold, and cash, believed to be resources for Potra’s group to execute their planned power grab. Current reports suggest that Potra may be outside the country and is potentially seeking asylum in Russia.
The backdrop to these events includes allegations of Russian interference in the political landscape, with Romanian intelligence claiming that social media manipulation helped boost Georgescu’s visibility and support. A prosecutor described the annulled election as influenced by a “hybrid war” from Russia, highlighting concurrent cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns.
A date for Georgescu’s trial has not been announced, but it is projected to begin as early as 2026.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g5ky0vex8o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss