Former Romanian presidential candidate Georgescu was detained for allegedly creating an organized crime group

Former Romanian presidential candidate Calin Georgescu was detained as part of an investigation into the alleged creation of an organized criminal group (OCG) and fraud with particularly serious consequences. This was announced on September 21 on the website of the country's Organized Crime and Terrorism Investigation Department (DIICOT).

The statement clarifies that the staff of this organization, together with the Romanian police, conducted a total of five searches, and the investigation itself concerned three people — two Romanian citizens and an Italian citizen. Georgescu was among the people who were brought in for investigation.

According to the agency, the case is related to an alleged scheme for obtaining funds under the pretext of organizing foreign financing for businesses. The investigation believes that the unnamed victim was persuaded to provide guarantees for a loan of € 6 million, after which he transferred more than € 1 million to the participants of the scheme. Later, another 100,000 euros were demanded from him under the pretext of increasing the amount of financing to 15 million euros, as a result of which the total estimated damage exceeded 1.1 million euros.

"The leader attributed obvious roles in the criminal mechanism to two other members, presenting them as successful businessmen, administrators of foreign companies who could have large sums for lending," the text says.

Currently, investigative measures are continuing, and the suspects enjoy the procedural rights provided for by law and the presumption of innocence.

According to Digi24 TV channel, Georgescu was stopped right in the traffic, after which he was taken to his place of residence in Mogosoai for a search. In parallel, investigative actions took place at several more addresses in cities such as Bucharest, Cholpani and Buftia.

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Calin Georgescu was in the lead in the Romanian presidential election in 2024, but the results of the corresponding vote were later canceled due to allegedly discovered ties with the Russian Federation. Some time later, on May 26, 2025, he announced that he was retiring from politics, as he wanted to spend more time with his family.

At the same time, a number of investigations were launched against the former candidate for Romanian leadership, in particular, for quoting the former leader of a pro-fascist organization, Corneliu Zelea Codreanu.

Some time later, on July 20 of the same year, Georgescu's supporters held rallies in his support. During the demonstrations, they clashed with law enforcement officials. The statements of the European Commission about Moscow's alleged interference in the 2024 elections in Bucharest on February 4, 2026, have not been confirmed. The administration of the TikTok social network was unable to identify any signals indicating the relevant charges during the moderation of its content.