The crisis caused by the cancellation of the elections revealed that several institutions in Romania have been compromised by the hostile actions of Russian envoys who have associated with individuals in the country, creating the greatest threat to national security since the fall of communism in December 1989.
In mid-August 2022, a man with blond hair, an athletic build, slightly stocky and agile, disappeared into the alignment of trees in the eastern part of Herăstrău Park, following a sudden departure from a party taking place at the nearby Diplomats’ Club.
Russia invaded Ukraine at the end of February of that year, and fierce battles were taking place in a large part of the neighboring country.
The event at the Diplomats' Club in Bucharest was organized by the South Korean embassy on the occasion of the national day of that country.
The man who abruptly left the party when several guests began to get agitated and wonder how he got there, although he was not invited, was none other than Evgheni Ignatiev, the deputy military attaché of the Russian Embassy in Bucharest, according to sources consulted by spotmedia.ro for this article.
Furthermore, confirmation of the aforementioned incident was also made at the time by PNL deputy Pavel Popescu, a participant in the event, who now holds the position of vice president of ANCOM.
Ignatiev's name appears in the criminal case file compiled by the General Prosecutor's Office in which Călin Georgescu was indicted for multiple offenses against state order.
Georgescu - Motocu - Ignatiev
In that case, among other facts, prosecutors present the connection between a Russian representative and Călin Georgescu. Many of his supporters have repeatedly claimed that the presidential candidate in question has no ties to Moscow.
In a recorded phone conversation between Călin Georgescu and Marian Motocu, a Legionnaire militant detained by police, the defendant states that "there is a plan... an action" through which he will come to power.
Following the digital search carried out on the computer systems found in the possession of the defendant Marian Motocu and the analysis of the notes made by Motocu Marian in the agendas found at his residence, as a result of the digital search, the possibility has emerged that he is part of an organization with a fascist character, with members in several counties of the country, aiming not only to spread legionary ideologies in the public space... but also to recruit new members to form a nucleus with extreme right-wing orientation...
Călin Georgescu's criminal case
Marian Motocu, immediately after the end of the conversation, called the Russian Embassy in Romania, where he asked to speak with Colonel Evgheni Ignatiev, after identifying himself and providing his phone number.
Ignatiev, the deputy military attaché of the Russian Embassy in Bucharest, is a highly recognizable figure in the country's political and business circles.
He is a person who participates in fairs, conferences, events, asks questions, and gathers information diligently, according to statements from individuals who have seen him in action.
Although authorities are aware that he engages in espionage work, he has not been expelled because, being very well-known, his effectiveness is limited, a source consulted by spotmedia.ro stated.
Another spy, the same liaison agent
On May 24, 2024, the Romanian Intelligence Service announced that based on the data provided to DIICOT, prosecutors had detained a Romanian citizen, investigated for the crime of treason.
"Starting in 2022, the Romanian citizen collected military information and photographed military equipment and the movement of personnel near Romanian military objectives or those belonging to NATO located on Romanian territory. The collected information was transmitted to diplomats at the Russian Embassy in Bucharest," as stated in the SRI press release.
The perpetrator of the treason offense is Alexandru Pișcan, 40 years old, who has since been sentenced to five years and nine months in prison.
But even more importantly in this case is that the liaison for Pișcan, the individual who received the photographic materials and reports made by the Romanian citizen, was none other than Evgheni Ignatiev, the deputy military attaché of the Russian Embassy in Romania, explained a person familiar with the case who wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the subject.
GRU in Action in Bucharest
The military attachés of the Kremlin abroad are part of the GRU, the secret service of the army, the agency through which Vladimir Putin carries out hybrid actions and attacks beyond borders, according to several investigations conducted by Western authorities.
"GRU plays an important role in Russia's foreign policies and national security," as stated in a report by the American Congress, conducted in 2020.
"As a branch of the military, GRU is responsible for all levels of military intelligence, from tactical to strategic. GRU commands Russia's Spetsnaz brigades (special forces), which carry out reconnaissance operations, raids, and sabotage missions on the battlefield...," the report further specifies.
"In addition, GRU conducts traditional intelligence-gathering missions by recruiting and collecting human and electronic resources. Beyond its traditional roles related to combat and intelligence, GRU conducts extensive cyber activities, disinformation, propaganda, and assassination operations," as highlighted in the American Congress document.
The connection between Călin Georgescu and Russia, both through Evgheni Ignatiev and through Horațiu Potra who traveled to Moscow, being a visitor to the Russian Embassy in Romania, indicates a strong connection between the support network of the presidential candidate and the Kremlin's intelligence services.
Horațiu Potra, one of Georgescu's financiers
The alignment between the Donald Trump administration and Vladimir Putin is highly visible and threatening in Romania, where a network has been formed consisting of former officers of the communist-era secret services, with ties to the Kremlin and validated by Russian influence agents in the US aimed at compromising NATO and blocking aid to Ukraine from EU member states.
Călin Georgescu's network, consolidated in the last three years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is based on former DIE (Foreign Intelligence Directorate) officers, former diplomats, as well as retired generals, as shown in various articles published by spotmedia.ro in recent months.
This network has been funded with money coming from Russia, one of the channels being managed by Horațiu Potra, who had connections with Kremlin envoys, in Africa, where he carried out military operations alongside Wagner mercenary troops.
Horațiu Potra fled the country, being targeted by several searches by investigators, following which approximately 6 million euros, money, gold, and gemstones were confiscated, assets hidden in his residence and that of his associates.
Enemies from Within
In recent days, there have been indications that the Georgescu network enjoys support within major institutions of the Romanian state.
"As part of the case subject to the aforementioned press release, investigations are being carried out regarding the support of criminal activities by a person who holds the quality of magistrate," as stated in the General Prosecutor's Office press release, the institution that indicted Călin Georgescu.
Evgheni Ignatiev, the deputy military attaché of the Russian Embassy in Bucharest, had connections with people in Călin Georgescu's circle, being involved in a series of intelligence-gathering operations on Romanian territory after the outbreak of the Ukraine invasion.
The relationship between Călin Georgescu and Bogdan Vacusta, a former agent of the DGIA (Army General Intelligence Directorate), also leads to GRU's involvement in creating and supporting the Georgescu network.
According to the history Marius Oprea, Vacusta was recruited by the Kremlin's secret service, specializing in cryptocurrencies. The agent, alongside Călin Georgescu, founded the Ancestral Land Association.
Currently, there are significant indications showing Russia's support for Călin Georgescu, as well as the establishment and strengthening around him of paramilitary, espionage, and corruption structures that have infiltrated and compromised a series of institutions and agencies in Romania.