Romania charges ex-presidential candidate Călin Georgescu over coup attempt

Romanian prosecutors charged ultranationalist politician and the frontrunner in last year's cancelled presidential election Călin Georgescu on Tuesday with attempting to stage a coup.

According to the charges, Georgescu and 21 other people were planning to endanger national security and the country's constitutional order after the pro-Russian candidate's first round election victory in November was ruled invalid.

In an interview with Euronews Romania, Romania's former Prosecutor General Augustin Lazăr said Georgescu could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.

One of the other suspects is Horațiu Potra, a mercenary who organised a paramilitary group following a meeting with Georgescu on 7 December, according to prosecutors.

The previous day, Romania's Constitutional Court annulled the first round of the election after allegations emerged of electoral violations and Russian interference. Moscow has rejected accusations of meddling in the vote, and Georgescu has denied any wrongdoing.

The prosecutors' statement said the paramilitary group formed by Potra was plotting to instigate clashes and carry out "violent actions of a subversive nature".

Potra was arrested on 8 December while travelling towards Bucharest with a group of armed men, according to local media. He was reportedly released from custody on condition that he reported to the police, but later fled the country.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Romania's Prosecutor General Alex Florența said Potra's whereabouts are unknown but that he was trying to obtain asylum in Russia.

Romania has been the target of "extensive hybrid campaigns" by Russia over the last year, with cyberattacks and disinformation seeking to influence the election, he added.

Authorities in the EU and NATO member country in December declassified documents alleging that Moscow had organised a sprawling social media campaign to promote Georgescu's presidential bid.

Florența alleged that Georgescu had benefited from online disinformation campaigns spanning platforms such as Facebook and TikTok.

Georgescu was barred from the tense election rerun held in May. It was ultimately won by pro-EU candidate Nicușor Dan, ahead of far-right leader George Simion. Georgescu has since announced his retirement from politics.

Writing on X on Tuesday, Dan said the prosecutors' investigation showed how Russia's actions "directly supported a pro-Kremlin candidate in the electoral race".

"Romania will not tolerate any foreign interference in its democratic process," he said.