Group arrested in Romania for alleged collaboration with Russia and attempted coup
Illustrative photo: Romania has exposed a group of people for attempting a coup (Getty Images)
In Romania, law enforcement authorities detained six individuals suspected of working for Russia and attempting to "overthrow the state order," the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism in Romania reports.
Since 2023, five of the suspects created a criminal group to "violate the sovereignty and independence" of Romania by "politically undermining the country’s defense capabilities." In 2024, one more person joined the group.
"All members carried out continuous, deliberate, public, or covert actions to achieve the stated goal," the statement says.
Romanian law enforcement uncovered a group operating under the guise of an organization with a military structure and a clear hierarchy. The organization had a headquarters with leadership and executors, including a retired major general.
According to the prosecutor's office, the group members had repeatedly contacted foreign agents operating both in Romania and Russia. Furthermore, the suspects recruited supporters online and posted video appeals to the Romanian authorities and international organizations.
The investigation established that the detainees discussed with foreign curators the possibility of Romania withdrawing from the military alliance, changing the constitutional order, creating a new government, and even altering the state symbols. In January, two of the suspects visited Moscow, where they met with individuals who expressed their readiness to support their attempts to seize power in the country.
As previously reported, on February 26, a series of searches were conducted in Romania in a case of incitement against the constitutional order. During these searches, former presidential candidate Călin Georgescu was detained.
