Călin Georgescu and Horațiu Potra Appear in Court for Coup Attempt Case

Former presidential candidate Călin Georgescu and mercenary Horațiu Potra appeared before the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ÎCCJ) on Wednesday morning, August 5th, to face charges related to an alleged coup attempt.

The case, which includes Georgescu, Potra, and 20 other defendants, is currently in a preliminary stage where judges will determine if it proceeds to a trial on the merits. The proceedings were previously adjourned on June 29th to August 5th.

Prosecutors allege that members of Potra's group aimed to infiltrate protests following the annulment of the December 2024 presidential elections. Their alleged goal was to provoke violence and chaos. Investigators claim this plan was formulated during a meeting at a farm in Ciolpani shortly after the election annulment, with Georgescu and his close associates reportedly in attendance.

The Court of Appeal in Bucharest had previously ruled to begin the trial on April 2nd. However, Georgescu and the other defendants contested this decision, leading the case to the supreme court. The case was initially assigned to judges Paul Mihail Frățilescu and Adina Adriana Radu, who heard the parties' arguments on April 14th but postponed the ruling three times.