Russia's military attaché to Bucharest and his deputy were declared personae non gratae in an unprecedented move by Romanian authorities on Wednesday. The military, air and naval attaché Victor Makovskiy and his deputy Evgeny Ignatiev were expelled for carrying out activities that contravened the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. "It is an exceptional measure. It is not a common measure. It is not a measure taken easily, and it is taken when the breaches are grave," Romanian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Andrei Tarnea, told Euronews Romania on Wednesday. "In general such decisions and their reasons are not communicated publicly. They are communicated directly to the states' authorities," Tarnea added. "Diplomatic relations among states are carried out within the international laws as stipulated by the Vienna Convention. The states have rights and obligations arising from it. When these are breached, measures are taken as a consequence." Meanwhile, sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity have told Euronews Romania that Makovskiy and Ignatiev have been linked to the ultranationalist politician and 2024 presidential election candidate Călin Georgescu and his campaign. Georgescu, dubbed the "TikTok Messiah," came out on top in the first round of Romania's presidential elections in December, which the country's constitutional court annulled following the declassification of intelligence reports showing Russian involvement in influencing voters through social media to support the then-relatively unknown candidate. Georgescu is facing criminal proceedings including anticonstitutional acts and misreporting his campaign finances. The charges also revolve around his support for sympathizers of the Iron Guard, a pre-World War II fascist and antisemitic movement and political party, which is illegal under Romanian law. Ignatiev's name appears in the files gathered during the investigation into Georgescu, according to Euronews Romania's sources. Marian Motocu, the leader of the right-wing extremist "Movement 41" organization, who is also facing trial for inciting hatred and promoting antisemitic doctrine, allegedly called the Russian Embassy on 13 September of last year and asked to speak with Ignatiev. Georgescu has been implicated in being in contact with Motocu and another far-right figure, mercenary Horațiu Potra. Potra, who owns a private military company and is a former member of the French Foreign Legion, was detained in mid-December over allegations of planning large-scale protests in favor of Georgescu. Potra was investigated on illegal possession of weapons and ammunition charges, as well as public incitement to unsanctioned gatherings, but was ultimately released. However, the latest information from the investigation claims the three have allegedly conspired to create a militia tasked with taking over Romanian institutions. According to files available to Romanian prosecutors, Georgescu and Motocu exchanged a total of 150 messages in which Georgescu allegedly told Motocu that he had a plan and a strategy known only to him. If things went well, Georgescu said Motocu would have a place in the "action," Euronews Romania reports. On Tuesday, Russia's Foreign Intelligence (SVR) accused Brussels and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of meddling against politicians "who are open supporters of US President Donald Trump," name-dropping Georgescu as one of the "nationally oriented conservative leaders" on the receiving end of this alleged policy. The Kremlin has stated on Wednesday that it will issue "an appropriate response" to Makovskiy and Ignatiev's expulsion, Russian state-owned outlet Tass reported, citing a Russian Foreign Ministry official. "The Russian side considers this step unjustified and unfriendly and reserves the right to take retaliatory measures," Russia's charge d'affaires in Romania Yelena Kopnina told Tass. In recent times, Romanian politics have suddenly come to the fore among top allies of US President Donald Trump, with his Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr all backing Georgescu or criticizing Bucharest for annulling the December vote. — Euronews
