Călin Georgescu detention ruling postponed to 13 October as protests reach 14th night
The Bucharest Tribunal postponed until Tuesday, 13 October, its ruling on whether former presidential candidate Călin Georgescu can leave pre-trial detention for house arrest or judicial control. He has been held since 29 September in a DIICOT fraud investigation.
Detention review
Călin Georgescu, a former presidential candidate, has been in pre-trial detention since 29 September, when the Bucharest Court of Appeal ordered him held for 30 days, along with businessman Ionel Rusen, in the DIICOT fraud investigation. On Monday, 12 October, the Bucharest Tribunal heard his request to replace detention with house arrest or judicial control, but it postponed its ruling to Tuesday, 13 October. His lawyers argued that there is no evidence he would try to flee the country or obstruct the search for the truth, the grounds prosecutors gave for seeking detention. On 12 October he was taken under escort from the Arestul Central to the Tribunal, and later the same day to DIICOT headquarters, where computer searches of seized devices continued.
Fraud investigation
DIICOT is investigating the former candidate for forming an organised criminal group and for fraud with particularly serious consequences, in continued form. Prosecutors allege that a businessman was promised financing of 6,000,000 euros on condition that he deposit a guarantee, and that he transferred over 1,000,000 euros. The group later suggested the credit could rise to 15,000,000 euros with an additional guarantee, and the victim sent a further 100,000 euros. The victim's total damage is put at over 1.1 million euros. Prosecutors say that 100,000 euros of the money was to be used to support Georgescu's election campaign, and those allegations are part of the criminal investigation. Prosecutors also placed several bank accounts in his name under seizure on 7 October, after earlier seizing his villa in Mogoșoaia. Investigators have examined 27 electronic devices seized in earlier searches, and people close to the investigation say millions of files must be analysed to determine their relevance.
- Bucharest Court of Appeal rules the attempted coup trial can start, a ruling later challenged at the supreme court
- Supreme court definitively rejects challenges in the preliminary chamber stage
- First hearing on the merits of the attempted coup trial, postponed to 28 September
- Court of Appeal orders 30 days of pre-trial detention for Georgescu and Ionel Rusen
- Prosecutors announce seizure of several bank accounts in Georgescu's name
- Tribunal hears request to replace detention, ruling postponed; coup trial hearing postponed to 27 October
- Tribunal due to rule on request to replace detention with house arrest or judicial control
- Next hearing in the attempted coup trial
Attempted coup trial
Georgescu is also on trial with Horațiu Potra and 20 co-defendants for attempted actions against the constitutional order, allegedly ahead of the 2024 elections. The case was registered on 16 September 2025, and the Bucharest Court of Appeal ruled on 2 April that the trial could start. Defendants and prosecutors both challenged that ruling at the supreme court, which definitively rejected the challenges to the preliminary chamber stage on 6 August. At the hearing on 12 October only six of the 22 defendants attended, Potra among them, and Georgescu stayed away after his lawyers had asked for him to be tried in absentia. The court rejected a request to return the case to the preliminary chamber and a recusal request against the presiding judge, Paul Mihai Cozma. The judge also found null statements that defendants gave while they had only witness status, and ordered the related evidence removed from the file. The next hearing is set for 27 October 2026.
Protests and other proceedings
Supporters gathered outside the Arestul Central on the evening of 12 October for the 14th consecutive night, chanting his name and calling for his release. Earlier placards described him as a victim of alleged political persecution or as a political prisoner. Jandarmeria Capitalei said 124 fines had been issued since his incarceration, with a total value above 100,000 lei. Georgescu is also under investigation in two other criminal cases, and he has been sent to trial in both. On Tuesday, 13 October, he is also due at Sector 1 Court of First Instance in a case concerning legionary propaganda.
