Journalist Emilia Șercan wins case against National Library director over thesis investigation leak

Journalist Emilia Șercan announced she has won a criminal case against Adrian Cioroianu, the director of the National Library. Cioroianu had disclosed that Șercan was investigating Mircea Geoană's doctoral thesis.

The Bucharest Tribunal issued a warning to Cioroianu, refraining from applying a penalty. He was also ordered to pay Șercan 5,000 lei in moral damages and cover legal costs. Șercan described the ruling as Cioroianu being an "unconvicted offender" who received a criminal sanction but no direct punishment.

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Instanța a decis însă să renunțe la aplicarea unei pedepse și să îi aplice un avertisment, care este cea mai ușoară sancțiune prevăzută de Codul penal.

The case originated in February when Șercan posted on Facebook about the cold conditions at the National Library. Cioroianu, then director, allegedly revealed Șercan's investigation into Geoană's thesis. Șercan stated she had warned him twice that his disclosure constituted a crime, as the information was not public and protected by GDPR and internal regulations.

"I hope my effort to protect my journalistic activity, and today's decision, will encourage other journalists to turn to justice when public officials disclose information about the subjects they are working on," Șercan wrote on Facebook. The sentence is not final and can be appealed.

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Sper ca demersul meu de a-mi proteja activitatea de jurnalist, dar și decizia de azi să le dea curaj și altor jurnaliști să se adreseze justiției atunci când persoane aflate în funcții publice divulgă informații despre subiectele la care lucrează.