Archived

President Nicusor Dan said that Romanian authorities finally have solid proof of Russian involvement in Romania’s cancelled 2024 presidential elections. He also estimated that far-right candidate Călin Georgescu benefited from EUR 20 million in dark money.

Dan argued that authorities did not have proof that Russia interfered through advertising in the electoral campaign until the Prosecutor’s Office report. The latter showed that accounts and companies from Russia were used in the disinformation process.

“We now have proof of the fact that there were several sites that acted so that their advertising would reach a large number of people. Accounts and companies from Russia were used in this disinformation process, and I will inform our partners,” the president also said, cited by News.ro.

[…]

Aside from online disinformation, the president estimated that Călin Georgescu’s electoral campaign could have benefited from funding worth EUR 20 million, although prosecutors have data regarding EUR 1 million paid by businessman Bogdan Peschir. Officially, Georgescu’s campaign had declared zero funding for the 2024 presidential campaign.

[…]

Nicusor Dan said he will inform EU partners of the proof of Russian involvement in Romania’s cancelled 2024 presidential elections during the informal meeting of EU leaders in Copenhagen on Wednesday, October 1.

EU and Western allies are also more aware of these destabilizing attempts coming from Moscow, according to the Romanian official. “Russia is waging a hybrid war in Europe, including in Romania, to install friendly governments or amplify fears,” Dan argued.

[…]