General Berdilă rejects accusations in Romanian Army chief's case
Lieutenant General Iulian Berdilă denies any unlawful involvement after his name appeared in the DNA case of Romanian Army chief General Vlad Gheorghiță.
General Berdilă denies involvement in Army chief's DNA case
Lieutenant General Iulian Berdilă, deputy for operations and instruction of the Defence General Staff, rejected on Tuesday any association of his name with unlawful activities, after G4Media reported that he appears in the criminal case of Romanian Army chief General Vlad Gheorghiță.
"I categorically reject any insinuation regarding the existence of an illicit activity or criminal conduct on my part," Berdilă said in a post on the official Facebook page of the Romanian Army.
The general maintains that the situation cited in the case "does not represent a criminal matter" regarding him and that he had no involvement and no knowledge of the circumstances described by investigators. "There are no facts or actions that support the existence of any breach of the law on my part. On the contrary, my conduct has been characterised at all times by strict compliance with the law, as well as the applicable military regulations," he added.
Berdilă warned that any attempt to associate his name with unlawful activities "is unfounded, lacking factual support and ignores the objective reality of the facts," noting that his entire activity was conducted in accordance with legal and professional obligations. He also reserved the right to use "all necessary legal means for the defence of reputation, honour and rights" of his own.
Background of the DNA case
Defence General Staff chief General Vlad Gheorghiță was questioned Tuesday morning at the National Anti-Corruption Directorate in a case being investigated by military anti-corruption prosecutors. Gheorghiță has the status of suspect and is accused of complicity in usurpation of office.
According to a DNA statement, during July 2025, Gheorghiță allegedly facilitated the issuing and signing by Lieutenant General Berdilă of a request addressed to the Ministry of Education and Research, through which the expansion of budgeted places at the National University of Physical Education and Sport Bucharest — Faculty of Physical Education and Sport was requested. DNA contends that this request was issued beyond the limits of the powers conferred by legislation, the competence belonging exclusively to the Human Resources Management General Directorate within the Ministry of National Defence.
The document thus issued allegedly resulted in the expansion of 20 budgeted places, through the promotion of candidates initially admitted to places requiring fees. Through this procedure, DNA maintains, the legitimate interests of the Ministry of National Defence were harmed and undue benefit was created for the 20 candidates, of whom 3 were to be employed as officers upon completion of studies.
The case originated from the suspicion that Gheorghiță acted in favour of another general's daughter, to facilitate her automatic employment in the Army.
Source: G4Media