Romania Ousts Two Russian Military Officials

BUCHAREST, Romania — Romania has announced the expulsion of two Russian military diplomats amid growing tensions with Moscow, a move that underscores the strained relations between Russia and several EU and NATO-member countries.
The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed on Wednesday that they had expelled Victor Makovskiy, Russia’s military, air, and naval attaché, along with his deputy, Evgeni Ignatiev. This decision was reportedly rooted in alleged activities by the two diplomats that were in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, though specifics were not provided by the ministry.
The decision was communicated to the head of the Russian embassy in Bucharest during a meeting conducted by Romania’s Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu.
The Russian embassy, in response, labeled the expulsions as “unfounded and unfriendly,” expressing intentions to consider retaliatory actions. This announcement was made public through a post on Facebook.
The diplomatic expulsions coincide with reports of Russia’s foreign intelligence service, SVR, suggesting that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged Romania to exclude Calin Georgescu from participating in the upcoming presidential election rerun in May. Georgescu has been a controversial figure, known for his past praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his statement branding Ukraine as “an invented state,” though he insists he is not aligned with Russian interests.
Following the annulment of last year’s presidential election, where Georgescu, a far-right populist, unexpectedly led the first round, Romania’s Constitutional Court halted the election process two days before the anticipated runoff on December 8. Allegations surfaced regarding electoral misconduct and suspected Russian meddling, which Moscow has denied.
As the rerun approaches, Romanian prosecutors are pursuing a criminal case against Georgescu for supposed links to fascist groups, incitement against the constitutional framework, and false declarations in campaign funding and asset disclosures. While he is currently under judicial supervision, Georgescu has appealed against this control.
In addressing the media outside a Bucharest court, Georgescu described these allegations as politically motivated.
The first stage of the rerun is set for May 4, with a potential runoff on May 18 if no candidate secures over 50% of the votes. Georgescu’s eligibility for participation remains uncertain as legal proceedings continue.