Romanian High Court to Rule in Case Against Georgescu, Potra Over Constitutional Order Charges

The High Court of Cassation and Justice in Romania is set to deliver a verdict in a high-profile case concerning Călin Georgescu and Horațiu Potra, along with associates accused of offenses against the constitutional order. The court's decision will address the preliminary chamber's review of the indictment's legality, a stage that has already seen contention.

Prosecutors have appealed a lower court's decision to proceed with the trial, particularly after certain witness statements, initially given under oath, were later excluded. This move by the prosecution highlights the complex legal maneuvering within the case. The court's upcoming ruling marks the third postponement, indicating the intricate nature of the legal proceedings.

Earlier, the court had ordered Horațiu Potra to house arrest, a shift from his previous pre-trial detention. The charges against Georgescu include complicity in attempted actions against the constitutional order and disseminating false information. Potra faces accusations of attempted actions against the constitutional order, alongside violations related to weapons, explosives, and pyrotechnic materials.

The case stems from events in December 2024, when Potra and a group of mercenaries were intercepted en route to Bucharest. Investigators allege a plan was hatched during a meeting on December 7, 2024, to hijack a protest supporting Călin Georgescu. The prosecution contends that this protest, scheduled for December 8, 2024, was intended as a cover for violent and destabilizing actions, with Potra's group tasked with inciting panic and chaos among attendees. The alleged preparatory meeting aimed to orchestrate "destabilizing events" to foster social unrest and insecurity.