Two of the six members of the ‘Romanian Vlad the Impaler’ group, allegedly plotting a coup in Romania, have been placed in 30-day pre-trial detention and face treason charges.
The four other members were released from custody but are subject to judicial control.
Supposedly led by 101-year-old retired Major General Radu Theodoru, a suspect in the investigation, the group had ties to two Russian embassy officials expelled on Wednesday, adding a layer of intrigue to their case in a country already sensitive to the possibility of meddling by Moscow in its internal affairs.
The first round of Romania’s presidential election last year was cancelled owing to the alleged Russian interference on behalf of Călin Georgescu, who came first in the poll despite being a complete outsider.
Romanian authorities became aware of the group in mid-February 2025, following a series of messages sent to government officials and institutions, including a message to interim President Ilie Bolojan, demanding that they tell the people of the alleged “national plundering” that has taken place since the 1989 revolution.
The group, named after Vlad Țepeș, a 15th-century nobleman infamous for his habit of impaling enemies and famous for being the inspiration of Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula,’ has dominated headlines in Romania for its desire to turn the country into a one-party state, rename it “Geția” and adopt a new anthem and flag.
It also promoted reclaiming historical territories lost to Ukraine, renewing economic ties with Iran, and negotiating with Russia to annul the pre–World War II Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact.
The group has built a minor social media following, with over 600 YouTube followers, 500 Telegram members, and a presence on TikTok and WhatsApp, supported by recruitment forms and donation links tied to founder Adrian Robertin Dinu.
“The research conducted revealed that members of the organized criminal group, through online platforms, recruited followers and published video materials,” Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), reported on Thursday.
Supposedly led by 101-year-old retired Major General Radu Theodoru, a suspect in the investigation, the group had ties to two Russian embassy officials expelled on Wednesday, adding a layer of intrigue to their case in a country already sensitive to the possibility of meddling by Moscow in its internal affairs.
The first round of Romania’s presidential election last year was cancelled owing to the alleged Russian interference on behalf of Călin Georgescu, who came first in the poll despite being a complete outsider.
Romanian authorities became aware of the group in mid-February 2025, following a series of messages sent to government officials and institutions, including a message to interim President Ilie Bolojan, demanding that they tell the people of the alleged “national plundering” that has taken place since the 1989 revolution.
The group, named after Vlad Țepeș, a 15th-century nobleman infamous for his habit of impaling enemies and famous for being the inspiration of Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula,’ has dominated headlines in Romania for its desire to turn the country into a one-party state, rename it “Geția” and adopt a new anthem and flag.
It also promoted reclaiming historical territories lost to Ukraine, renewing economic ties with Iran, and negotiating with Russia to annul the pre–World War II Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact.
The group has built a minor social media following, with over 600 YouTube followers, 500 Telegram members, and a presence on TikTok and WhatsApp, supported by recruitment forms and donation links tied to founder Adrian Robertin Dinu.
“The research conducted revealed that members of the organized criminal group, through online platforms, recruited followers and published video materials,” Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), reported on Thursday.
