Talk about an attack on freedom of expression. Reality is sending the accusations back to the malevolent sender – US Vice-President JD Vance – and all his impromptu supporters.

The arrest of Călin Georgescu in Romania represents a turning point in the defence of the country’s constitutional order and democratic stability. The operation is not the result of a political settling of scores, but the result of in-depth investigations that revealed a network of illegal activities, links with extremist circles and opaque funding flows.

The Romanian General Prosecutor’s Office has laid a range of charges that paint a disturbing picture. Georgescu, an extreme right-wing exponent known for his pro-Russian positions, is indicted for inciting actions against the constitutional order, spreading false information and making false statements continuously, in particular with regard to his campaign financing and his tax returns. He is also charged with initiating or setting up an organisation of a fascist, racist and xenophobic nature, as well as publicly promoting the worship of figures accused of genocide and war crimes, spreading ideas and doctrines related to fascism, legionarism and anti-Semitism.

Cash, weapons, tickets to Moscow: the criminal who wanted to sell Romania to Putin

The operation that led to his arrest was coordinated on a large scale. Law enforcement officers carried out searches in forty-seven locations linked to Georgescu and his associates. They included Horațiu Potra, his bodyguard and former Foreign Legion fighter, known for his links to the Wagner Group and neo-fascist movements. In December, after the cancellation of the presidential ballot, Potra was preparing to foment unrest. When police raided his home, they discovered ten million euros in cash, an arsenal of weapons and plane tickets to Moscow. Investigators are now investigating his connections to pro-Russian elements, including a woman with alleged links to Chechen mercenaries. Romanian media also reported that Potra was spotted in Moscow’s Red Square last September, a detail that strengthens suspicions of coordination with Kremlin-linked circles.

A due act to save an entire democracy

The annulment of Georgescu’s victory in the first round of the November 2024 presidential elections by the Constitutional Court is increasingly becoming a necessary act to preserve the legitimacy of the democratic process. The judiciary detected elements of Russian interference, confirming fears of a strategy aimed at destabilising the country. The fact that a candidate with such obvious links to extremist circles and foreign interests managed to gain significant support raises questions about Romania’s vulnerability to external influence.

In short, Georgescu’s arrest and the repression of his network are not a restriction of freedom of expression, but an act of defence of the rule of law. Romania is on the front line in the confrontation between the West and Russia, and the Georgescu case shows how urgent it is to armour democratic institutions against infiltration and manipulation. The stakes are high, very high.