Two men charged with treason given 30-day detention by Bucharest Court of Appeal
<p>Two of the men investigated by the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) for treason and forming a group to "undermine the sovereignty and independence" of Romania by colluding with a foreign power have been placed in preventive detention for 30 days by the Bucharest Court of Appeal. </p>
<p>The rulings come after six people were <a href="https://www.romania-insider.com/six-individuals-detained-romania-treason-march-2025">detained by DIICOT</a> prosecutors on suspicion of treason and forming a group aimed at "undermining the sovereignty and independence of the Romanian state by political subversion and weakening the country’s defense capabilities." Prosecutors say that the group was structured like a military organization. </p>
<p>Among those investigated is retired major general Radu Theodoru, who is 101, and served as a symbol in the organization. </p>
<p>Defendants Dinu Adrian-Robertin and Semeniuc Marius, by their names, will be placed under arrest in the case of the "Vlad Țepeș Command” group, which planned to overthrow Romania’s constitutional order. </p>
<p>The Bucharest Court of Appeal rejected as unfounded the request for preventive detention for Raul-Mihail Lupu and Georgică-Cristian Atitiene, who will be investigated under judicial control. It also denied the request for house arrest for Ștefan Mateescu and Radu-Pompiliu Șofran, who will also be investigated under judicial control. </p>
<p>In their defense, the two detained men argued that going to the Russian Embassy twice does not make them traitors. They also claimed they accompanied Radu Theodoru.</p>
<p>“Just because you shake hands with a Russian diplomat doesn’t mean you’re overthrowing governments," one of the detainees said after leaving the courtroom. He also explained that he accompanied Theodoru to the Russian Embassy.</p>
<p>"They invited Radu Theodoru. These people seem to respect veterans, unlike us. Radu Theodoru doesn’t even receive a pension from the Romanian state. That’s how Romania honors its war veterans," the man added, cited by <a href="https://www.news.ro/justitie/doi-dintre-barbatii-retinuti-de-diicot-pentru-ca-aveau-contacte-cu-agenti-straini-afirma-ca-nu-poti-fi-considerat-tradator-doar-pentru-ca-ai-fost-de-doua-ori-la-ambasada-rusiei-1922402406002025032121957107">News.ro</a>.</p>
<p>The members of the group allegedly had contacts with foreign agents in Romania and Russia and sought negotiations with foreign political-military figures regarding Romania’s withdrawal from NATO, the removal of the constitutional order, the dissolution of political parties, the installation of a new government, and the renaming of the country, its flag, and national anthem. </p>
<p>In January, two of the suspects traveled to Moscow, where they met individuals willing to support the organization’s efforts to seize power in Romania. </p>
<p><em><a href="mailto:radu@romania-insider.com">radu@romania-insider.com</a></em></p>
<p><em>(Photo source: Inquam Photos | Octav Ganea)</em></p>