Dubai detains so-called 'Romanian Prigozhin' linked to Russia and coup plot
“Romanian Prigozhin” Horațiu Potra detained in Dubai (Photo: Getty Images)
Horațiu Potra has been detained in Dubai. He was a mercenary and bodyguard for the far-right pro-Russian Romanian presidential candidate Călin Georgescu, according to Romanian Justice Minister Radu Marinescu on Digi24 and the BBC.
The minister stated that Romania is awaiting official confirmation from the authorities of the United Arab Emirates to proceed with the extradition process.
At the end of February, arrest warrants were issued in absentia for Potra, his son, and a relative for attempting actions against the constitutional order of the country.
According to the 327-page indictment by the Romanian General Prosecutor’s Office, cited by the BBC, Romanian mercenaries with combat experience in African countries planned to stage a so-called second revolution to bring Călin Georgescu to power.
The indictment details meetings and correspondence between the conspirators and Georgescu in December 2024. It describes active Russian involvement in promoting Georgescu’s candidacy online ahead of the presidential elections.
Georgescu’s participation in the elections
Georgescu won the first round of the presidential elections in November 2024, receiving 23% of the vote. However, before the second round, the Constitutional Court annulled the elections due to Russian interference.
Romanian authorities suspected him of vote manipulation via TikTok, as well as possible Russian involvement.
An investigation was launched against individuals connected to Georgescu. During searches, Horațiu Potra was found with weapons, ammunition, 25 kg of gold bars, and large amounts of cash in various currencies.
Local media have dubbed Horațiu Potra the 'Romanian Prigozhin' due to his involvement in mercenary operations in Africa.
Presidential election in Romania
As RBC-Ukraine reported, the Romanian Constitutional Court annulled the results of the vote held in November 2024. This followed the release of declassified documents indicating that Georgescu’s election campaign was influenced by external forces.
Intelligence reports also stated that Romania had been targeted by hybrid aggression from Russia, including cyberattacks, intelligence leaks, and more. Due to this, the election results were annulled.
The Romanian Central Electoral Bureau (CEC) barred Georgescu from participating in the presidential elections in May.
For more details about who Georgescu is and what he said about Ukraine, read the article by RBC-Ukraine.
