Romanian Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu resigned Friday after acknowledging he had lied about his studies in his CV saying he did not want his personal “mistakes” to take the attention off ital work of keeping the country safe from Russia.
His resignation came after the Libertatea daily reported this week that his resume contained incorrect information about the year he graduated and from which university.
“Romania and Europe are under Russian assault,” Mosteanu wrote on his Facebook account announcing his resignation.
“Our national security must be protected at all cost. I do not want discussions about my education and mistakes I made years ago to distract those who lead the country now from their hard mission.”
Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan thanked him for his service and said his post would temporarily be held by Economy Minister Radu Miruta.
Romania which is a member of the European Union and NATO, shares a 640 km border with Ukraine and has seen Russian drones repeatedly illegally enter its airspace since Moscow invaded Kyiv.
Mosteanu, who is a member of the centrist Save Romanian Union, was part of Romania’s pro-Western coalition government, which took office in June after the re-run of a contested presidential election.
The 2024 presidential poll was canceled over suspicions of Russian meddling and illegal influence in the electoral process.
