Eduard Hellvig, on July 3, 2023, comes before the public and announces that he is leaving the position of SRI director. The day before, on YouTube, an interview of one hour and 20 minutes with General Anton Rog, head of the National Cyberint Center within the SRI, was posted.
The interview conducted by Vlad Mercori, an influential voice on social networks with millions of followers, as well as a businessman and investor in cryptocurrencies, represents one of the most detailed descriptions of the activity of Romania’s largest intelligence agency regarding cybersecurity and the confrontations in the digital warfare zone.
In the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the intelligence services of Russia, all three…, FSB, GRU, and SVR, have attacked important institutions of the Romanian Government.
General SRI Anton Rog, Stake Borg Interview, YouTube, July 2023
There is no indication of any causality link between the two major public events centered around SRI activities - the resignation of Eduard Hellvig and General Rog's interview - but since then, a civilian director has not been appointed to lead the agency, and the crisis created by Russia's hybrid attack on the electoral process in Romania continues to raise many questions both domestically and internationally.
Eliminating the Threat
On July 2, 2023, General Anton Rog announced, in the cited interview, that the legislation had been amended, referring to Law 51/1991, regarding national security, and SRI had the legal basis to act in the event of a hybrid attack by external entities.
"...if that campaign is a disinformation campaign, an influence campaign, a hybrid attack against the constitutional order, meaning it influences the elections... then we use all means and force at our disposal in the intelligence service to eliminate that threat," explained the SRI official.
"What does this mean? It means countering the online campaign, it means that if we talk about an intelligence agency and so on, or websites, we take them down, we shut them down, not by ourselves, but with the help of ANCOM, with the help of the National Directorate for Cybersecurity, in many situations, it's not even known that it's us behind it, that we did all the work," General Anton Rog further stated.
"We go to the institutions that have legal responsibilities to shut down, to take down, and so on, we provide them with all the information, and they use it and take those measures."
"If we reach individuals about whom we are sure they are doing the job, undeniably, the same. We obtain a national security mandate signed by the director, approved by a prosecutor from the General Prosecutor's Office, signed by the prosecutor general, approved by a judge, endorsed by a specially appointed judge... Such a mandate can be obtained in less than an hour," explained the SRI official.
Is Romania Still Under Siege?
The description is suggestive and has several common points with the unfolding of events and the succession of decisions that led to the cancellation of the presidential elections.
It is clear that we have an extremely strong technical pillar. And, how should I put it, we use it to provide cybersecurity services to critical infrastructures and the Romanian Government mainly... we are an internal service. We protect.
General SRI Anton Rog, Stake Borg Interview, YouTube, July 2023
However, neither the SRI, nor the political leaders, the President of Romania, or the Prime Minister, ten days after the halt of the electoral process, have communicated whether Romania is still in danger, whether the hybrid attack has been repelled, whether measures have been taken to secure institutions, and what damages have been incurred?
Uncertainty still prevails, there is no communication with the public, and there are indications that Romania is still under siege.
"About 1% of the readers of this status understand or know what is happening in the Romanian online parts they do not directly visit. The remaining 99% would be terrified.
The campaigns are virulent, well-funded, extremely agile, attacking any candidate who is non-Georgescu and non-Simion, even potential ones... Absolutely nothing has been mitigated compared to the period before the second round. Absolutely nothing will be mitigated until the future second round," wrote sociologist Barbu Mateescu on his Facebook page.
Individuals involved in political campaigns announce that nothing has changed since the annulment of the elections by the CCR, that the danger has not been averted, and on social networks and probably in other areas, the attack continues.
Foreign Actors Have Intervened in Romania's Elections
From the interview with General Anton Rog, it appears that the SRI expected an attack and yet, even now, the agency has not managed to solve the problem.
Furthermore, following the statements made by Călin Georgescu, the pro-Russian candidate, as well as by George Simion, the leader of AUR with entry bans in Moldova and Ukraine, extremist forces continue to generate tensions in society.
A glimmer of hope came on Tuesday, December 17, from the European Commission, which announced that it had initiated official procedures against the Chinese platform TikTok regarding "electoral risks," in accordance with the Digital Services Act.
One of the suspicions that the Commission is set to investigate is whether TikTok has diligently mitigated the risks posed by the specific regional and linguistic aspects of national elections.
European Commission Report, TikTok Investigation
The investigation stemmed from the crisis triggered in Romania by the annulment of the presidential elections, with the data and reports on the desks of the European institution members confirming that the event is of unprecedented gravity.
"We must protect our democracies from any foreign interference. Whenever we suspect such interference, especially during elections, we must act quickly and decisively," stated Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.
"Following serious indications that foreign actors have intervened in the presidential elections in Romania through the use of TikTok, we are now carefully investigating whether TikTok has violated the Digital Services Act by not addressing such risks," the official added.
Part of the Hybrid Warfare
Romania overnight transitioned from a safe country, a stable democracy, and a reliable partner for the European Union and NATO to an uncertain status, where institutional deadlock, a hybrid attack, and a political crisis have made society vulnerable, fear and distrust becoming dominant feelings.
In the interview conducted by Vlad Mercori, General Anton Rog presents himself as a dynamic senior officer, who does not sit in an office but is out in the field, whatever that may entail, who considers SRI a strong and professional agency that defends Romania and its interests.
The event aimed to showcase the service's capabilities, response readiness, and expertise in the field of cybersecurity.
Looking back today, it is impossible not to think that this entire presentation is in stark contrast with the current situation, where the public opinion, besides a major political crisis, is also witnessing a national security crisis.
"We are a component of the kinetic war, a part of the hybrid war that Russia is waging against Ukraine…," said General Anton Rog of the SRI.