Investigative site Snoop on Tuesday revealed how Russian money, paid for seemingly benign advertisements, featuring homeopathic medicine and news about saints, came to influence Romanians’ vote in recent presidential elections.
Journalists reported they were later threatened after the article was published.
Snoop published recordings of threats where individuals said they had data on journalists who bother them which will be used against them by politicians who are about to take office in the new Parliament.
Bucharest police later announced they had begun a criminal investigation into the person who allegedly made the threats.
Snoop reported that a network of “advertising and news, meticulously prepared and created messianic narratives for years, ideas that were used by far-right candidate Călin Georgescu in the presidential campaign.” Millions of euros with connections to Russia, paid for the campaign, Snoop reported on Dec. 3.
Between 2016 and 2024, AdNow, a digital advertising company with ties to the Kremlin, paid money to the websites of televisions such as RTV and Realitatea Plus, conspiracy influencers and publications with far-right content, according to financial documents obtained by Snoop.
This is merely the amount identified by the Romanian Tax Authorities, as many payments were made in cryptocurrencies or fintech applications lacking transparency, such as PayPal, or Wirecard, which AdNow operates with.
Investigative journalist Victor Ilie on Wednesday had a telephone conversation with the head of the United Thrace Organization, a supporter of Calin Georgescu who came first in the first round of presidential elections.
The person reportedly lost his temper and told the journalist that, after the elections, all systems in Romania “will be abolished” and that he and people like him had gathered information about people “who bother them.”
“We have information on all of you, don’t you understand that we know everything about you? Everything! Where you go, what you do, and what you eat, everything. We know everything. (We know) where your money comes from, and where you go,” Bruno Mihailescu, a founder of the “United Thrace” movement, told Ilie.
Bruno Mihăilescu who is also a businessman and a colleague of Mugurel Calistrat Atudorei on Global News television.
Mugurel Atudorei was a candidate for the parliamentary elections for SOS Romania (far-right Diana Sosoaca’s party).According to an investigation carried out by PressOne , “United Thrace” also includes Florin Colceag, SOS’s proposal for the post of Minister of Education in a minority Government supported by Diana Șoșoacă.
They are all Georgescu supporters and promote him in interviews at Global News or on social media.
Here is a fragment of the conversation between Victor Ilie and Bruno Mihăilescu:
Bruno Mihailescu: “Starting next year, we will pass some laws for slander where all journalists who slander and who harm companies, companies and decent people will harshly punished.”
But you even think that you do this thing and you take money from some who already know who you are, where your money comes from, we know where you live, what you do. Don’t you think that there are some repercussions because you libel people who really love their nation and their people, and they have no way to get rid of all those who make fun of us?
I don’t understand, how you, a journalist, are investigating me, as if I did something wrong? (…)
There is a group of journalists who were deployed by Securitate officers who are on their last legs. All the systems in Romania will be abolished, including all the journalists who lied to the Romanian people, through the television stations and radios.
We have everything on you, don’t you understand that we know everything about you? Everything! Mihailescu said in the outburst.
Everything,where you go, and what you do, and what you eat, everything. We know everything. And where your money comes from, and where you go. (…)
Please, send me an ID, with you, your name and your address. Anyway, now I have your number, and I’ll take you by IP (…)”
Victor Ilie: Why were you bothered about the question with the Russian Embassy, when you went there on several occasions, with Mr. Rotariu, with Mrs. Șoșoacă…?
Bruno Mihailescu: Where, at the Russian embassy? So what, was it just me?
I think you don’t know what you’re getting into, be careful what you say. I say stop now, while you still have the chance..
Victor Ilie: What do you mean? What am I getting into?
Bruno Mihăilescu: Well, what are you getting into, who makes you do these things. You’re an arrow, you don’t know what you’re getting into, you don’t know what you’re getting into now, because you’re picking on us.
