Romania has recently apprehended six individuals suspected of conspiring to topple the government with purported assistance from Russian operatives, according to local prosecutors. The arrest coincided with the Romanian government’s decision to declare the military attaché of the Russian embassy and his deputy personae non grata for actions deemed inconsistent with diplomatic conduct.
Authorities announced on Thursday that the individuals detained had reportedly formed a group intending to undermine the sovereignty and independence of Romania. Their alleged objective included politically destabilizing the nation and compromising the country’s defense capabilities. Romanian intelligence officials indicated that the group sought to dismantle the current constitutional order and dissolve established political parties, ultimately aiming to establish a new government composed of its members.
The Romanian domestic intelligence agency, SRI, alleged that the suspects actively solicited support from officials within the Russian embassy to further their destabilizing objectives. It was revealed that the expelled Russian diplomats had reportedly engaged in gathering information on issues of strategic significance and were involved in facilitating the group’s anti-constitutional efforts. Notably, two suspects traveled to Moscow in January to meet figures who expressed willingness to assist in executing their plan for a political takeover in Romania.
In response to these developments, Russia’s Foreign Ministry refuted the allegations as speculative, characterizing Bucharest’s ongoing pursuit of purported “Russian traces” within its domestic political arena as a longstanding phenomenon. The ministry affirmed that Russia does not engage in meddling in the internal affairs of other nations.
The group reportedly exhibited a military-like hierarchy, with one of the suspects identified as 101-year-old Radu Theodoru, a former Romanian Army Major General. Despite his controversial views, including denying aspects of Holocaust history and expressing admiration for Romania’s fascist leadership during World War II, Theodoru has been a prominent figure in this investigation. He has publicly criticized the current Romanian administration, claiming that it operates as an “anti-Romanian state.”
Allegations suggest that the group’s actions extend to negotiating external support for Romania’s withdrawal from NATO, emphasizing their intent to replace the existing government structure with a new regime potentially accompanied by changes in national symbols. Political tensions are notably mounting in Romania, particularly following the annulment of the recent presidential election results, amidst accusations of foreign interference, specifically attributing influence to Russia.
The ongoing investigation, while surrounding serious allegations, remains distinct from the situation involving the far-right frontrunner implicated in the voided election, as clarified by judicial sources.
This complex scenario underscores the intricate dynamics of national security, international diplomatic relations, and domestic political stability within Romania, energizing discourse about the responsibilities and roles of external state actors in regional governance.
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