Romanian mercenary placed under judicial control for allegedly planning protests after canceled presidential elections

Horațiu Potra, the former Foreign Legion mercenary who was apprehended heading to Bucharest with numerous associates equipped with money and weapons reportedly ready to incite protest and intimidate journalists critical of pro-Russian independent candidate Calin Georgescu, was placed under judicial control on Tuesday, December 10, for a period of 60 days. The protests were allegedly planned in Bucharest following the Constituional Court's decision to annul the presidential elections, where Georgescu was to face off against USR's Elena Lasconi in the second round on December 8.

The judges decided against what the prosecutors requested, namely a 30-day preventive arrest for Potra. The decision is not final.

In the meantime, Horațiu Potra will be released from jail, but he is not allowed to leave the country and must report to the police weekly, according to Biziday.

Crackdown on Far-Right

Horațiu Potra and around 20 associates were apprehended while heading to Bucharest on Sunday, December 8, early in the morning. In their cars were weapons and large sums of money allegedly intended to incite protests.

The Ploiești Court of Appeal Prosecutor's Office suspects that Potra and his employees were heading toward Bucharest intended to incite unauthorized protests.

A dozen searches were conducted in Bucharest and the counties of Sibiu and Ilfov on Monday, December 9, as part of the investigation following the detention of Horațiu Potra and his associates. They are accused of incitement and violations of the arms and ammunition regulations.

Potra's case shows how the Romanian justice system cracked down on previously-unseen networks of the far-right behind Calin Georgescu, the virtually unknown politician who came in first place during the now-annulled first round of the presidential elections. Georgescu, however, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing or connections with controversial figures such as Potra.

Links to Călin Georgescu

In recent days, the controversial presidential candidate Călin Georgescu has struggled to explain his connections, denying during a Realitatea Plus interview that he knew Horațiu Potra.