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The Romanian pro-Russian candidate who won the first round of the later presidential vote canceled after last year was taken to interrogate prosecutors.
Fall right -wing politician Caorgescu was apprehended by police in Bucharest Wednesday while traveling to register in May reprint of votes, according to his Facebook page.
He was interrogated by the prosecutor’s office at the same time that raids across Romania aimed more than 20 people near his campaign, including a notorious mercenary leader.
“They are seeking to invent evidence to justify the stealing of the elections and do nothing to block my new candidacy for the presidency,” a post on Georgescu’s Facebook page said. “Where is democracy?” A lawyer for Georgescu did not respond immediately to a comment request.
The November election was canceled by the Romanian Constitutional Court after the highest national security body in the country claimed to intervene in Rus in favor of Georgescu, the first round victory of which shook the country’s political establishment.
Authorities still should not make final public evidence of the Russian collision in the polls. Georgescu, who praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and criticized Ukraine and the West for supporting Kyiv, has denied that his campaign was driven by Russian intervention.
Georgescu and mercenary leader Horaratiu Potra were among the 27 people who were targeted by prosecutors in relation to crimes, including actions against the constitutional order, the creation of an extremist organization and the promotion of people’s views on war crimes and genocide – Concerning Georgescu’s open admiration for Romania’s war leaders.
A December speech by Georgescu in Bucharest, where he repeated the words and gestures of Romania’s fascist leader Ion Antonescu, was a special cause of his detention, according to prosecutors.
It was not clear immediately what the impact would Georgescu’s detention on his offer in the repeated elections, scheduled for May 8 and 22. Recent surveys have shown him to be a precursor, with some surveys citing more than 40 percent support for him.
Georgescu’s case was raised this month by US Vice President JD Vance, who denounced the cancellation of elections as an indicator of the European backward slide for democracy.
Vance accused Romanian authorities of bowing to “ardent intelligence” and pressure alleged by other European capitals.
People near US President Donald Trump, including his son Donald Trump Jr. and Elon Musk, have repeatedly criticized Romania for treating the case. Musk posted on Wednesday X that “they simply arrested the person who won the most votes in the Romanian presidential election. This is confused.”
