Romanian prosecutors have arrested six men on charges of treason for allegedly conspiring with Russian agents to overthrow the government. The group, named “Vlad the Impaler Command” after Romania’s medieval ruler, reportedly sought assistance from Russian operatives in an effort to dismantle the country’s constitutional order.
Among the accused is 101-year-old retired general Radu Theodoru, a known figure in Romania with a history of antisemitic rhetoric. Prosecutors and Romania’s domestic intelligence agency, SRI, stated on Thursday that the men had “repeatedly contacted agents of a foreign power, located both on the territory of Romania and the Russian Federation.” They face charges of organizing a criminal group and treason, crimes that carry severe penalties.
Authorities also expelled two high-ranking Russian diplomats—the military attaché and his deputy—on Wednesday for their alleged involvement in supporting the group’s activities. According to SRI, the diplomats engaged in intelligence-gathering efforts in strategic areas and played a role in backing the group’s anti-constitutional actions.
This wave of arrests and expulsions marks an intensified crackdown by Bucharest on suspected Russian influence operations. It follows Romania’s unprecedented decision in December to cancel a presidential election due to alleged Russian interference. Moscow has denied these accusations, with Russian intelligence officials claiming that efforts to expose interference in Romania were orchestrated by the European Union.
Meanwhile, Romanian politician Călin Georgescu is also under criminal investigation for alleged links to fascist groups and attempting to subvert the constitutional order. While he has denied receiving Russian support, he admitted to spending no money on his campaign, raising suspicions of external influence. However, authorities have not directly linked Georgescu to the Vlad the Impaler Command group.
Prosecutors allege that the arrested men discussed plans with Russian spies to withdraw Romania from NATO, abolish the current constitution, dissolve political parties, and remove all state employees. They also purportedly intended to rename the country and change its national symbols. Two of the accused reportedly traveled to Moscow in January, where they met with individuals willing to support their plans for seizing power in Romania.
Theodoru, the centenarian general, has long been a controversial figure. His 2000 book, “Zionist Nazism,” dismissed the Holocaust as a financial enterprise for Jewish communities, further cementing his reputation as a promoter of extremist views.
