On February 26, prosecutors conducted raids at several individuals associated with Călin Georgescu, including Horațiu Potra. Two days later, a preventive arrest warrant was issued in his name, but the mercenary from Mediaș was not found, being placed under national and international search.
There are indications that he left before raids, being informed that he would be investigated in a new case and possibly arrested.
On January 8, the same Potra, already under surveillance by intelligence services, was photographed in the lobby of the Hilton Jumeirah Palm hotel in Dubai, where he met Anait Martirosyan, a real estate agent from Russia, who, after the images appeared in the Romanian press, deleted her accounts on social networks, including Telegram, keeping only a Facebook page with no posts.
... to put it bluntly, any elections held without Călin Georgescu will be illegitimate...
Dmitri Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, threatening Romania from a country that has been under the dictatorship of a former KGB agent, Vladimir Putin, for 26 years
There is no definite confirmation that Martirosyan is an agent of the Kremlin, but the fact that for an alleged financial transaction with frozen funds, Potra turns to her raises many questions.
Potra: Arrest the Generals!
There are several contradictions in Potra's case. If the mercenary was under the surveillance of Romanian authorities, how was he let go after the arrest warrant was issued, why is he not located, and why is he not brought back to the country?
Until these questions receive answers, Horațiu Potra remains a serious threat to Romania due to his connections with Russia, the fact that he managed to infiltrate the Ministry of National Defense, recruiting individuals for missions abroad, introducing assault weapons into the country, possessing a veritable arsenal, and repeatedly inciting to coup d'état.
"Come out now, come out with your weapons and arrest all those who carried out the coup, absolutely everyone. Arrest them all, and if your generals try to stop you, arrest them too. Shame on those generals who have done nothing until this moment and have accepted the coup. Come out, Romanian soldiers, honor your oath. You are not alone, the people are with you," demanded Horațiu Potra, in an audio message released on a mercenary group on WhatsApp.
Potra's Army in the Romanian Army
In addition to the fact that, following the above incitements, the mercenary violates the law, committing several offenses against the constitutional order, Potra indirectly confirms that he has connections with active Romanian military personnel, once again putting the Ministry of National Defense in difficulty.
In recent weeks, several journalistic investigations have been published showing how involved the supporter and financier of Călin Georgescu was in business with the Ministry of National Defense.
On February 27, the ministry announced that it would conduct an analysis regarding the issue of active military personnel carrying out mercenary missions abroad.
Finally, from a firm denial that there are active military personnel working for Horațiu Potra, government representatives admit that they are facing such a phenomenon but suggest that it does not "affect national security."
National Security Crisis Concealed by MoD
Comparing Potra's incitement to coup, insubordination, and attack on military structures from his message with the Defense Minister's statement, it is evident that there is a suspicious reluctance at the army leadership level to address an internal problem that has meanwhile turned into a national security crisis.
Moreover, Potra's incitement, addressed to Romanian military personnel, has not elicited any reaction from the Ministry of Defense; no official has clarified the situation within the armed forces to the public in the current context created by Russia's attack on Romania.
Call your colleagues, friends, and to battle, boys! Here we fight for our country, not for another country! You will be the future democratic body of the Romanian army! If we are not capable of doing something, who will? Each of you go out in your cities, go to Bucharest, with the pitchfork, the fork... and the axe, those of you who have weapons, lay hands on them...
Horațiu Potra, message to mercenaries after the rejection by the BEC of Călin Georgescu's candidacy
Horațiu Potra is a supporter of the Kremlin, and his dealings with mercenaries have thrived under the shadow of the Wagner group, which had interests in Africa.
After Prigojin's death and the withdrawal of Russian mercenaries, the Romanian attempted to develop a military force to fill the void left by Wagner.
The funds confiscated by Romanian authorities, the weapons, and Potra's connections with Moscow, the visits to the Russian Embassy, and financial transactions with Kremlin representatives indicate that Potra received substantial support from Russia, with his mission being to recruit military personnel from the country to involve them in operations in Africa.
Romania Affected by Potra's Actions
In reality, the mercenary pursued a single objective, common with that of the Kremlin, to build an army modeled after Wagner to drain funds from African operations but also to be used politically in Romania to help Călin Georgescu become president.
All meetings between the two, the involvement of legionnaires, mercenaries, the messages they transmitted in the public space had a single purpose, to stabilize the democratic system in the country and create a path for the pro-Russian candidate to come to power.
Horațiu Potra managed to visibly weaken Romania, the crisis in the Ministry of Defense is an example in this regard, but he was blocked at the last minute from carrying out his plan to the end.
There is little chance he will be brought back to Romania soon, and repairing the damage caused will require years and leaders capable of cleaning up and reforming compromised institutions.