Romanian Authorities Arrest Six Suspected of Plotting Kremlin-Linked Government Overthrow

On March 5, prosecutors from the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) in Romania ordered the detention of six suspects under investigation for forming an organized criminal group and committing treason in Russia’s interests.

According to DIICOT, the evidence in the case revealed that starting in 2023, five of the defendants, together with a suspect, formed an organized criminal group with the aim of undermining the sovereignty and independence of the Romanian state by politically undermining the country’s defense capacity.

“Starting in 2024, another defendant joined the organized crime group, all members carrying out continuous, conscious, public or conspiratorial actions in order to achieve the proposed goal,” DIICOT wrote in a press release.

“Also, the members of the criminal group repeatedly contacted agents of a foreign power, located both on the territory of Romania and the Russian Federation.”

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DIICOT added that in January, two of the defendants traveled to Moscow, where they established contact with individuals willing to support the organization’s efforts to seize state power in Romania.

Prosecutors discovered that members of the organized criminal group had been recruiting followers and attempting to negotiate with foreign political and military forces to facilitate Romania’s withdrawal from the NATO alliance.

According to the authorities, their ultimate goal was to dismantle the existing constitutional order, abolish political parties, establish a new government, and change the country’s name, flag, and national anthem.

The names of the suspects have not been officially released. However, sources from Europa Liberă România within the court report that one of them is 101-year-old retired Major General Radu Teodoru.

Sabotage incidents have been increasing across Europe, with multiple cases traced back to Russia. On December 4, 2024, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský reported that Russia is suspected of involvement in nearly 100 incidents across Europe in 2024, classified as hybrid attacks, espionage, or influence operations.