Prosecutors release report on Getia treason case, intercepted conversation excerpts included

The leader of the Vlad Tepes Command paramilitary organization Adrian Robertin Dinu was on a visit to Moscow in January 2025, from where he messaged the group's members to keep them on the loop on the meetings he had in the Russian capital and on future action related to the cancellation of Romania's presidential election, the prosecutors note in a report that also presents excerpts from the intercepted conversations.Two members of the group, Adrian Robertin Dinu and Marius Semeniuc, were put in pre-trial arrest for treason and connections to Russian agents, and another four (Sefan Mateescu, Raul-Mihail Lupu, Georgica-Cristian Atitiene and Radu Pompiliu Sofran) are being proved under judicial control. Radu Theodoru, a 101-year-old retired general, is also being investigated as a suspect in the case.Through various communiqués, the Vlad Tepes Command was requesting Romania's exit from NATO, the resumption of economic and cultural relations with Russia, China and Iran, and also a new leadership structure for Romania through the "Getia" project.The leader of the Command reported to his Romanian comrades that in Moscow he had negotiated the formation of a new government, asking also the Romanian end to send him proposals for Romania's president, as well as minister proposals in a government with 9 ministries; the person who was to be appointed to Foreign Affairs minister was to sign an agreement to change the name of the country to the Romanian People's Republic and adopt a constitution for the new state. The requirements for the president nominee were for them to be a five-generation Romanian who has never betrayed, stolen, is not an imposter and is necessarily an Orthodox Christian.According to the indictment, starting in 2023, members of the Vlad Tepes organization got in contact with diplomatic staff of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Bucharest, in particular with military air and naval attaché, Colonel Chuprina Alexandr, as well as with deputy military attaché, Colonel Ignatiev Evgheny. Stefan Mateescu and Major General (ret.) Ioan-Radu Theodoru can be seen in a photo posted on 02.11.2023 on the Facebook account called "Embassy of Russia in Romania", pictured at an event organized by the Embassy.On 29.11.2023, the group's leadership core held a meeting with representatives of the Russian Defense Attaché Office in Bucharest, Colonel Chuprina Alexandr, and Colonel Ignatiev Evgheny, respectively. During the meeting, which took place at the house of Radu Theodoru, the objectives of the Vlad Tepes Command were presented, discussed and agreed upon, namely Romania's exit from NATO, the declaration of neutrality and the conclusion of a strategic treaty with the Russian Federation.Makovskiy Victor - military air and naval attaché with the Russian Embassy, and deputy military attaché Ignatiev Evgeni were identified as having links to the Vlad Tepes Command.The organization reportedly has around 10,000 sympathizers, some from the Army and other force structures.According to case documents, building on the beliefs, image and notoriety of retired General Radu-Ioan Theodoru, Stefan Mateescu and Adrian-Robertin Dinu initiated a campaign to attract as many people as possible to the organization, including from the National System of Defense, Public Order and National Security, who sympathise with anti-Western narratives.Without having a legal form, the organization over time took various titles such as the Vlad Tepes Operative Command, "Our Force", "Opus Nostrum Dirige" or Mihai Viteazu Command."According to the organization's internal estimates, with the caveat of overestimation, the group has around 10,000 sympathizers. The members arrogate themselves military ranks and specific honorary attributions (e.g. Stefan Mateescu presents himself with the rank of general). The recruitment of new followers takes place both through personal interactions and through online platforms. For the online recruitment of new members, there is a platform associated with the name of Maj. Gen (rtr.) Theodoru Ioan-Radu, where one fills out a membership application form which is then validated internally. After verifying the candidates, they are included in the organization's WhatsApp groups," the prosecutors said.