by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
BUCHAREST (Worthy News) – Romanian prosecutors have detained controversial former presidential candidate Călin Georgescu for 24 hours as part of an investigation into an alleged 1.1 million euro ($1.26 million) fraud scheme and organized criminal group.
Georgescu, a pro-Russian politician who unexpectedly won the first round of Romania’s subsequently canceled 2024 presidential election, was detained Monday after investigators searched his home near Bucharest for nearly nine hours.
Prosecutors are investigating allegations that Georgescu and others deceived a Romanian businessman by promising access to millions of euros in financing from a foreign financial institution.
Georgescu declined to give a statement to investigators, according to judicial sources, while dozens of supporters gathered outside the headquarters of Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT).
FRAUD INVESTIGATION
Authorities carried out searches at five properties in Bucharest and surrounding communities as part of an investigation into alleged organized crime and aggravated fraud.
Prosecutors said three people — two Romanian citizens and an Italian — formed an organized criminal group in September 2021 that sought to obtain money from Romanian businesspeople by promising access to substantial foreign financing.
Investigators allege that one businessman was led to believe he could obtain a 6 million euro ($7.1 million) credit line if he provided a financial guarantee.
He transferred more than 1 million euros and was later told the proposed financing could be increased to 15 million euros ($17.8 million) if he provided an additional guarantee of 100,000 euros, bringing his alleged losses to more than 1.1 million euros.
CAMPAIGN LINK REPORTED
Romanian media, citing judicial sources, reported that investigators are also examining whether some of the money was ultimately used to finance Georgescu’s presidential campaign.
Georgescu has not been convicted in the latest case, and the allegations remain under investigation.
The case marks another dramatic turn for a politician whose unexpected rise shook Romanian politics and triggered one of the country’s most serious electoral crises since the fall of Communism.
Georgescu, a strong critic of NATO, Brussels, and Western support for Ukraine, unexpectedly won the first round of Romania’s presidential election in November 2024.
ELECTION CANCELED
Romania, a member of the European Union and NATO, canceled the presidential election the following month amid allegations of Russian interference favoring Georgescu.
Moscow denied accusations that it interfered in the election, while Georgescu has repeatedly rejected allegations of wrongdoing.
He was subsequently barred from running in the repeated presidential election but has remained popular among nationalist voters.
The rerun was eventually won in May 2025 by pro-European centrist Nicușor Dan, who became Romania’s president.
OTHER LEGAL CASES
Georgescu, who has never served as president, is already on trial in two separate cases.
One involves charges related to an alleged attempt to undermine Romania’s constitutional order and national security following the cancellation of the election.
The second concerns allegations that Georgescu promoted Romania’s fascist leaders and organizations from the 1930s, which is illegal under Romanian law.
Georgescu has denied wrongdoing in those cases.
His 24-hour detention in the latest investigation leaves prosecutors to decide what further legal measures, if any, they will seek as the fraud investigation continues.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
