Romania rejects Kremlin criticism over far-right leader’s election ban

Romania declared on Wednesday that Russia has “no right to lecture on democracy” after the Kremlin accused Bucharest of disregarding democratic norms by barring a pro-Moscow candidate from standing in a presidential election re-run.

Călin Georgescu (C), the far-right candidate who won the first round of Romania's annulled presidential elections, arrives at the Bucharest Court of the 1-st district headquarters in Bucharest, Romania, 03 March 2025. Former independent presidential candidate Călin Georgescu was questioned by prosecutors on 26 February 2025 as part of an investigat

EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT

Far-right politician Călin Georgescu was blocked from the May vote after Romania’s Constitutional Court upheld a decision disqualifying him. Georgescu led the first round of polls late last year, but those elections were nullified amid allegations of extensive Russian interference.

Romanian foreign ministry’s response

A Romanian Foreign Ministry statement dismissed comments by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who branded the move “trampling on democratic norms” and “disregarding democracy.”

Bucharest countered that Russia “has not had free elections for almost 20 years. An aggressor state cannot give lessons in democracy.”

The ministry also highlighted that Russian opposition figures face severe restrictions, with prominent dissidents allegedly killed and “executed a few meters from the Kremlin,” underscoring the hostile environment for political opponents of President Vladimir Putin.

Mounting tensions in bucharest

Georgescu’s ban has fueled unrest in Romania. Violent protests broke out in the capital on Sunday, and hundreds returned to the streets on Tuesday after a court rejected an appeal to overturn the ban.

Russia denies involvement with Georgescu, with Peskov calling accusations of Moscow’s backing “total nonsense.” Nevertheless, he insisted the disqualification violates democratic principles.

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Source: Reuters, IAR, PAP