Romanian Court Extends Detention of Far-Right Politician Calin Georgescu by 30 Days

A Romanian court has extended the pre-trial detention of far-right politician Calin Georgescu by 30 days as prosecutors continue investigating an alleged fraud worth 1.1 million euros ($1.2m).

The Bucharest Court of Appeal issued the decision on Wednesday, reversing an October 13 ruling by a lower court. That earlier ruling had ordered the pro-Russian politician to be moved from police custody to house arrest for 30 days while the fraud probe went on. Following the appeal decision, Georgescu remained in police custody, with his detention now set to run until November 27.

According to prosecutors, Georgescu and two other suspects persuaded a Romanian businessman to hand over 1.1 million euros. They allegedly did so by leading him to believe they could help him obtain a credit line of up to 15 million euros ($16.7m) from a foreign financial institution.

Georgescu has denied any wrongdoing. He has described the investigations as "politically motivated".

Hundreds of his supporters protested against the investigation, and media reports said some groups entered the Bucharest court building on Wednesday to demand his release. George Simion, leader of the hard-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians, said the lower court's initial ruling showed that protesters were being heard.

Georgescu was the former frontrunner in Romania's 2024 presidential election, having won the most votes in the first round in November 2024. The results and the second round were later scrapped after allegations of Russian interference. Moscow denied interfering in the vote.

He was subsequently barred from standing again. The rerun election in May 2025 was ultimately won by the pro-European centrist Nicusor Dan.

In a separate case, prosecutors have accused Georgescu of instigating violence after the ballot was annulled, disseminating false information, attempting to disrupt national security and promoting 1930s fascist leaders.

Other far-right politicians have backed Georgescu and vowed to stand by him as political uncertainty continues in the country. This month, Parliament approved a government proposed by pro-European Luca Niculescu, making him prime minister after months of deadlock that followed the collapse of the previous coalition in May.