Protest at Bucharest Court: 250 Georgescu supporters demand his release
Around 250 people gathered on Monday outside Bucharest Court to support Călin Georgescu, who is in preventive detention. The court was hearing the DIICOT's request to extend the preventive measure.
Georgescu supporters in the streets at Bucharest Court
Around 250 people gathered on Monday, 26 October, outside Bucharest Court, according to Gândul, to support former presidential candidate Călin Georgescu. The court was hearing on the same day the DIICOT's request to extend preventive detention, a measure imposed in a case in which Georgescu is accused of fraud of approximately 1.1 million euros to the detriment of businessman Răzvan Leu from Buzău.
Protesters came with placards and Romanian flags, chanting messages such as "Judges, traitors!", "Fabricated case, Călin is innocent!" and "Călin Georgescu is president!". Several banners were displayed on the protective fence in front of the court, one of which bore the message "We cannot be spectators to what is happening to us".
In images captured at the scene, supporters can be seen holding placards with portraits of two judges who had previously rejected the proposal for house arrest.
Hearings concluded, decision awaited
After hearing the arguments of the lawyers for both defendants, the judge for rights and freedoms closed the hearings and withdrew to deliberate, without making further statements. The decision announced on Monday is not final; any appeals will be decided by the Bucharest Court of Appeal.
Legal context: detention maintained after DIICOT's appeal
On Friday, the Bucharest Court of Appeal entirely set aside the Bucharest Tribunal's ruling and rejected, as unfounded, Georgescu's request to replace preventive detention with house arrest. The court's minutes record the acceptance of the appeal filed by the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice – DIICOT – against the initial decision.
The ruling required the constitution of a dissent panel, after the two judges on the Court of Appeal panel failed to reach a common solution, necessitating the participation of a third judge.
On 13 October, Bucharest Tribunal granted Georgescu's request to replace preventive detention with house arrest for 30 days, but the ruling was appealed by DIICOT prosecutors. By the Friday decision, the higher court ruled in the prosecutors' favour, so Georgescu remains in preventive detention.
Case: fraud and organised criminal group
Călin Georgescu has been in preventive detention since 29 September 2026, in a case being investigated by DIICOT in which he is accused of fraud with particularly serious consequences and establishment of an organised criminal group. The investigation concerns an alleged scheme by which a businessman was defrauded of approximately 1.1 million euros, in the context of a business matter related to obtaining financing for transactions in precious metals.
The Bucharest Court of Appeal's decision concerns exclusively the preventive measure and does not represent a ruling on guilt. Călin Georgescu enjoys the presumption of innocence.
Source: Gândul