Călin Georgescu has been remanded in custody
The Appeal Court in Bucharest has ordered the 30-day preventive arrest of the former presidential candidate, Călin Georgescu
Leyla Cheamil, 30.09.2026, 14:00
The former Russia-leaning presidential candidate, Călin Georgescu, was pretrial arrested for 30 days on Tuesday on charges of deception and participation in an organized criminal enterprise.
The same decision was made in the case of his accomplice and businessman, Ionel Rusen, involved in raising funds for Georgescu’s campaign in the 2024 presidential election.
The court’s decision is definitive in this case, which has been one of the most heavily covered stories in Romania of late. The court has admitted the challenge of the DIICOT prosecutors, (the anti-mafia prosecutors’ office) against the court in Bucharest, under which Georgescu was released under judicial control.
A week ago, he was detained for 24 hours for making an organized criminal group and fraud with exceptionally grave consequences. The investigation started from a complaint tabled by a businessman in Buzau, south-eastern Romania, who was allegedly scammed out of one million Euros.
The prosecutors have seized Georgescu’s villa in Mogosoaia, close to Bucharest, to recover the damages. According to legal sources, quoted by mass-media, in this case prosecutors would have requested information from Latvia, Italy, Great Britain and Switzerland. The loss has been estimated at 1.1 million Euros: one million to be invested in precious metals and 100 thousand in the election campaign.
The case has sparked public outrage and deeply divided public opinion. Supporters have gathered in front of the court to voice support for Georgescu, saying the former candidate in the presidential election is not guilty.
On the other hand, others have highlighted the severe allegations brought by the prosecutors.
Critics say that no one should be above the law and are calling for total transparency concerning the funding sources Georgescu used.
We recall the presidential election in Romania was cancelled in December 2024 following allegations of Russian interference in support of Georgescu, who had won the first round and who was believed to be a man contesting the West and its support for Ukraine. Moscow has rejected all allegations but prosecutors have indicated cyber attacks and massive disinformation campaigns. The election was resumed in May 2026 and was won by the pro-European Nicusor Dan whereas Calin Georgescu was banned from running in the election. He is also being investigated in another two files: one on undermining the national security and another one on the illegal promotion of fascist leaders in the inter-war period.
Georgescu is denying all allegations.
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