Thirteen riot police were injured, and four remain in hospital after clashes with supporters of a radical Romanian politician who was barred from running for president in Romania, took part in a protest that turned violent.
Protesters hurled firecracker, slabs of loose pavement and bottles at police on Sunday after the Central Electoral Bureau ruled that Calin Georgescu could not stand in the summer redo of elections.
The BECvoted 10-4 to ban him from the rerun of the presidential elections, for failing to “defend democracy” and “allow free,fair and impartial” elections.
The 62-year-old NATO skeptic surprisingly won the first round of presidential elections last year but the ballot was cancelled after reports of Russian meddling in the process. Moscow denies interference.
As the violence unfolded, police took the ID’s of more than 500 people at the protest. Eleven participants face criminal charges.
“Based on … (video) footage….people who committed antisocial acts last night will be identified and verified,” the Gendarmerie said on Monday.
Thirteen police officers suffered injuries to the skull, knee, ankle and other areas.
Police said four people face accusations of disturbing the public order and peace and others face charges of committing acts of destruction and abusing a police officer. They handed out fines of 3,200 lei.
“We emphasize the fact that it is regrettable and worrying the way in which some people understood … their right to free expression and decided to provoke such violence, at the same time destroying a part of the Old Town Center, smashing shop windows, destroying municipal objects, pavement and burning garbage cans. ..A television car was damaged,” police said.
The violence came after the Central Electoral Bureau rebuffed the candidacy of radical Calin Georgescu in a 10-4 vote.
After the announcement, several hundred supporters who had been gathered outside the BEC offices in Bucharest’s Old Town clashed with riot police and the protest degenerated into violence.
The violent protesters, including supporters of football galleries, tore off pieces of pavement and pelted riot police with plastic objects and eggs.
Police called in reinforcements and closed off a main road until early Monday.
PHOTOS: Romania bans hard-right candidate from running for president
