Romanian police are questioning pro-Russia candidate Calin Georgescu over allegations he was a member of fascist and anti-Semitic organization and also related to the financing of his election campaign.
Police stopped the ex-presidential election frontrunner in traffic in Bucharest on Tuesday lunchtime.
Prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for him and have begun searching the premises of his close associates, including mercenary leader Horatiu Potra and Georgescu’s bodyguard.
“Where is democracy, where are the partners who must defend democracy?,” a post on Georgescu’s Facebook account said.
Prosecutors suspect 27 people of acting against Romania’s constitutional order, public incitement, initiation of a fascist organization and false statements regarding the sources of financing an election campaign. Neither Georgescu nor his aides were named in the statement.
Georgescu is suspected by prosecutors of promoting fascist ideas, of initiating or setting up a fascist, racist or xenophobic character organization, of publicly promoting the cult of people guilty of committing crimes of genocide against humanity and war crimes.
He is also accused of making false statements over the financing of his electoral campaign and of spreading false information. Georgescu famously claimed zero spending on his campaign.
Shortly after news of the raids broke Wednesday morning, Georgescu claimed that the searches were aimed to block his new presidential candidacy.
Romania was plunged into a political crisis laste year after Georgescu, a pro-Russian and NATO skeptic, unexpectedly won the first round of the presidential vote and was scheduled to face reformist Elena Lasconi in the second round.
The Constitutional Court canceled the first round of the presidential election after an alleged sophisticated Russian operation to influence the result.
Romania has scheduled a rerun of elections on May 4, with a runoff two weeks later.
Amid the political chaos, Romania’s outgoing pro-European president, Klaus Iohannis, was forced to step down.
Adding to the tensions, top figures in the conservative U.S. government claimed that Romania’s electoral crisis was an example of Europe allegedly cracking down on democracy and free speech. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance blasted Romania’s highest court for its w ruling.
Romanian blogger questioned by police after radical politician complained about Facebook post
