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Romanian prosecutors have formally charged Calin Georgescu, a far-right former presidential candidate, with attempting to overthrow the constitutional order following the annulment of the 2024 presidential election. Georgescu, who had initially led the first round of voting, was disqualified after the country's Supreme Court cited significant Russian interference in the electoral process.
The charges, announced on Tuesday, allege that Georgescu, alongside 21 co-conspirators, including paramilitary leader Horațiu Potra, plotted to incite violence and destabilize Romania's democratic institutions.
Prosecutors claim that the group organized protests and engaged in cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns aimed at influencing public opinion and undermining state authority. Horatiu Potra, who is currently a fugitive believed to be in Russia, reportedly met with Georgescu to plan these actions.
Authorities have also linked Georgescu's campaign to over 85,000 cyberattacks and widespread disinformation efforts, many of which were allegedly orchestrated by entities connected to Russia. These operations reportedly targeted Romanian institutions and sought to bolster Georgescu's candidacy, leading to his disqualification from the May 2025 election rerun, which was won by pro-European centrist Nicușor Dan.
Georgescu, a vocal critic of NATO and the European Union, has denied all allegations, describing the annulment of the election as a "formalized coup d'etat." He has vowed to challenge the charges and continues to maintain his innocence.
If convicted, Georgescu faces up to 25 years in prison on charges including attempting to disrupt national security and complicity in actions against the constitutional order.
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