Romanian far-right former presidential candidate Calin Georgescu has been charged with attempting to stage a coup after the first round of the presidential election was annulled last December.
Horatiu Potra, a former French legionnaire and militia chief in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and 20 other people were also charged.
The case rests on a planned raid on the Romanian capital Bucharest on 8 December, which police foiled.
Romanian prosecutors describe a plot targeting Romania's constitutional order, involving Georgescu, Potra, their group, and alleged foreign intelligence links.
Potra and others have been charged with instigating the coup, while Georgescu is accused of conspiring with Potra. Prosecutors allege Georgescu met Potra and other members of his group at a horse farm in December, soon after Georgescu's victory was annulled.
Georgescu initially denied that the meeting took place, but later admitted it after photographs were published in Romanian media. However, he denies discussing plans to stage an insurrection.
In late February police raided several locations in Romania, uncovering a cache of weapons, gold and cash, with which it is alleged Potra's group planned to stage a violent power grab.
Prosecutors say Potra is currently not in the country and may seek asylum in Russia. Georgescu, 63, came as a surprise first in the presidential election's first round last November. That result was annulled by the Constitutional Court just days before the second round was to take place amid allegations of Russian interference.
Romanian intelligence services suggested that his presence and popularity on social media were boosted by a mass influence operation conducted from abroad to interfere with the vote result. At a press conference, prosecutor general Florenta described the annulled 2024 election as the result of a hybrid war orchestrated by Russia.
He alleged that cyberattacks on airports and public institutions coincided with an online disinformation campaign waged through troll farms, bots, and AI-generated content. According to investigators, more than 2,000 Facebook pages were used to amplify pro-Georgescu messages, while TikTok networks of over 20,000 automated accounts boosted his campaign in the days before the vote.
After Georgescu was barred from registering as a candidate, his ally George Simion stood in his place in the May rerun. Simion won a dramatic first-round victory but was eventually beaten into second place by Nicusor Dan, the liberal, pro-EU mayor of Bucharest, in the run-off.
Georgescu has not yet commented on the charges, although this month he accused the Romanian authorities of ruling through deceit, intrigue, and division. President Dan stated that the prosecutors' report was proof that Russia had exercised systematic disinformation in Romania and attempted to influence the 2024 election.
A date for Georgescu's trial has not yet been given, but it could begin in early 2026.
