Romanian court grants former presidential candidate conditional release in fraud case

A Romanian court on Tuesday ordered the conditional release of former presidential candidate Calin Georgescu in a fraud case, broadcaster Digi24 reported.

The Bucharest Tribunal rejected prosecutors’ request to keep Georgescu and co-defendant Ionel Rusen in custody for 30 days, placing both under judicial control.

Georgescu cannot leave Romania and must report regularly to police.

Prosecutors from Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) detained him for 24 hours on Monday in an investigation into organized crime and an alleged €1.1 million ($1.3 million) fraud.

Prosecutors allege that three people formed an organized criminal group in September 2021 and operated mainly in Romania and the UK as part of a scheme involving promises of foreign financing, according to DIICOT.

The investigation concerns a businessman who allegedly lost about €1.1 million after being promised access to financing.

Georgescu was detained after investigators carried out searches at five locations in Bucharest and nearby areas, including his home in Mogosoaia.

He exercised his right to remain silent during questioning, according to judicial sources cited by Romanian news agency Agerpres.

Dozens of supporters gathered outside the courthouse during Tuesday’s closed-door hearing, chanting “We do not give up!” Digi24 reported.

Georgescu, running as an independent, unexpectedly won the first round of Romania’s 2024 presidential election with about 23% of the vote.

However, the Constitutional Court later annulled the election following intelligence reports alleging campaign irregularities and foreign interference. Georgescu was subsequently barred from running in the repeat election in 2025.

The latest fraud case remains under investigation.