BUCHAREST – Romanian authorities have arrested six individuals on charges of treason and collaboration with Russia, accusing them of conspiring to undermine national sovereignty and even change the country’s name and national symbols. The case has triggered serious diplomatic repercussions, including the expulsion of two Russian diplomats—a military attaché and his deputy.
According to Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), the suspects were in regular contact with foreign intelligence agents operating both in Romania and Russia. In 2023, they allegedly formed a “military-type structure” aimed at sabotaging Romania’s political and defense capacities.
“Their ultimate goal was to force Romania’s withdrawal from NATO, seize control of state institutions, and alter the country’s name, flag, and national anthem,” DIICOT said in a statement.
The arrests underscore rising concerns in Eastern Europe about Russian influence operations, particularly as the war in Ukraine continues and Moscow seeks to destabilize NATO’s eastern flank.
Romania, a key NATO member, has taken a firm stance in support of Ukraine and has strengthened its defense posture in recent years. The exposure of such a plot signals the growing complexity of hybrid threats in the region.
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