Romania hit back, saying that the Russian opposition has no access to legal institutions and “opponents are executed a few meters from the Kremlin.”
Georgescu, powered by a successful TikTok campaign, scored a surprise win in the first round of Romania’s presidential election in November — but the vote was later annulled and Georgescu was barred from the do-over by Romanian electoral authorities over allegations Russia had influenced the original vote in his favor. Moscow denies the accusations.
The Romanian furor has triggered criticism of European democracy, with senior United States administration figures, including billionaire presidential adviser Elon Musk and Vice President JD Vance, lambasting authorities in Bucharest.
Romanians will head to the polls to cast their votes in the first round of the new presidential election on May 4, with a runoff scheduled for May 18.
