Calin Georgescu responsible for plotting a coup in Romania

The former candidate in the extreme right of the presidential election Calin Georgescu was accused of having tried to organize a coup after the announcement of the first round of the presidential election last December.

Horatiu Potra, a former French legionnaire and chief of the militia in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and 20 other people were also charged.

The case is based on a raid planned for the Romanian capital Bucharest on December 8, which the police foiled.

Romanian prosecutors describe a plot targeting the constitutional order of Romania, involving Georgescu, Potra, their group and alleged foreign intelligence links.

Potra and others were accused of prompting the coup, while Georgescu is accused of conspiracy with Potra.

The prosecutors say that Georgescu met Potra and other members of his group on an equestrian farm in December, shortly after the cancellation of Georgescu’s victory.

Georgescu initially denied that the meeting took place, but admitted it later after the publication of photographs in the Romanian media. However, he denies discussing plans to organize an insurrection.

At the end of February, the police went down in several places in Romania, discovering a cache of arms, gold and silver, with which it is presumed that the Potra group planned to stage a violent takeover.

Prosecutors say that Potra is not currently in the country and can request asylum in Russia.

Georgescu, 63, was surprised first in the first round of the presidential election of Romania last November.

This result was canceled by the Constitutional Court only a few days before the second round takes place in the midst of allegations of Russian interference.

Romanian intelligence services have suggested that its presence and popularity on social networks have been stimulated by a mass influence operation – led from abroad – to interfere with the result of the vote.

During a press conference, the Attorney General Florenta described the election canceled in 2024 as “the result of a hybrid war orchestrated by Russia”.

He allegedly alleged that cyber attacks on airports and public institutions coincided with an online disinformation campaign carried out in troll farms, robots and content generated by AI.

According to investigators, more than 2,000 Facebook pages have been used to amplify Pro-Georgescu messaging, while Tiktok Networks of more than 20,000 automated accounts strengthened its campaign in the days preceding the vote.

After Georgescu was prevented from registering as a candidate, his ally George Simion, the chief of the far -right party Aur, was held in his place in the replay of May.

Simion won a dramatic victory in the first round, but was finally beaten in second place by Nicusor Dan, the pro-Eue Liberal Mayor of Bucharest, in runoff.

Georgescu has not yet commented on the accusations, although this month, he accused the Romanian authorities of governing “the deception, the intrigue and the division”.

President Dan said the prosecutors’ report was “proof” that Russia had exerted “systematic disinformation” in Romania and had tried to influence the 2024 elections.

A date for Georgescu’s trial has not yet been given, but it could start in early 2026.