Several hundred supporters of far-right, pro-Russian Romanian politician and former presidential candidate, C\u0103lin Georgescu, have been protesting for five days in front of the Central Detention Center in Bucharest, where he is held.<\/p>\n
Organizing through social media, Georgescu\u2019s supporters have occupied the sidewalks and small parks in the area, chanting in favor of the politician accused of fraud, calling for his release.<\/p>\n
The area is being closely monitored by gendarmes and police officers.<\/p>\n
Those living in the nearby apartment buildings, however, have been complaining that they have had no peace since Georgescu was taken into custody. Students at the nearby college have also been affected.<\/p>\n
\u201cColleagues from the Bucharest Gendarmerie have taken the necessary measures to maintain a safe environment, manage the flow of people and, very importantly, keep access routes clear, given that we are talking about a residential area. People who live there and who must be able to reach their homes, move around under normal conditions, and not have their daily lives affected,\u201d said Police Chief Ramona Dabija, cited by TVRInfo<\/a>.<\/p>\n Overall, police issued 98 fines worth roughly RON 84,500 to those who broke laws during the protest.<\/p>\n During their stay in front of the detention center, on Saturday, October 3, supporters of the former presidential candidate lit candles forming the initials of journalist Cristian Tudor Popescu, a staunch critic of the politician. They began singing \u201cEternal Memory,\u201d usually sung for the deceased, and a video showed a woman accusing the journalist of \u201cwanting Mr. C\u0103lin Georgescu dead.\u201d<\/p>\n In reaction, Romanian president Nicu\u0219or Dan said that the incident was \u201cunacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI consider the gestures directed against journalist Cristian Tudor Popescu and any attempt to turn a political disagreement into a tool of intimidation unacceptable. No journalist should ever become the target of threats, harassment or violence because of the opinions they express,\u201d Nicu\u0219or Dan wrote on his Facebook page.<\/p>\n C\u0103lin Georgescu is accused of fraud<\/a> with particularly serious consequences and of forming an organized criminal group. According to DIICOT prosecutors, businessman R\u0103zvan Leu allegedly suffered losses of EUR 1.1 million following a precious metals deal and a loan that never materialized. Georgescu, along with businessman Ionel Rusen, was detained for 30 days starting on Tuesday, September 29.<\/p>\n Georgescu is also being investigated for legionary propaganda and an attempted coup in separate files.<\/p>\n The politician\u2019s supporters, including those in the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians party (AUR), currently quoted with around 34% support among the public, believe Georgescu\u2019s accusation is politically motivated.<\/p>\n On Monday, October 5, Georgescu\u2019s father-in-law, Vasile Moldoveanu, arrived at the DIICOT center to be questioned as a witness in the fraud case. According to investigators, R\u0103zvan Leu received RON 118,000 by bank transfer from Moldoveanu before the date set for him to appear before a mediator, on October 18, 2023, according to the report proposing Georgescu\u2019s arrest.<\/p>\n Moldoveanu allegedly returned the money as a \u201cloan\u201d after Leu had sent him Georgescu\u2019s bank account details, and Georgescu thanked him and told him, \u201cI\u2019ll be back soon,\u201d referring to the payment of the money.<\/p>\n C\u0103lin Georgescu\u2019s father-in-law is also expected to attend the forensic examination of the phone, according to G4media.ro<\/a> information. The device was allegedly found and seized during searches of the Georgescu couple\u2019s home in Mogo\u0219oaia, where Vasile Moldoveanu also reportedly lives.<\/p>\n