50 Fines Total 51,800 Lei at Central Arrest Facility Protests
The number of fines issued by gendarmes to participants protesting outside the Central Arrest facility in Bucharest has reached 50, with penalties totaling nearly 52,000 lei, according to an updated balance sheet released by Bucharest Gendarmerie. Demonstrations began on September 29, 2026, following the Bucharest Court of Appeal’s decision to issue a 30-day preventive arrest warrant for former presidential candidate Călin Georgescu and businessman Ionel Rusen in a DIICOT investigation involving organized crime and fraud allegations with an estimated 1.1 million euro prejudice, adevarul.ro reported. From the moment Călin Georgescu was brought to the Central Arrest, supporters have gathered every evening outside the institution, staying late into the night, chanting slogans, and waving flags. Călin Georgescu conveyed a message to the demonstrators gathered at the Central Arrest headquarters, stating that le mulțumește și că îi aude
(he thanks them and hears them). The message was transmitted by one of his bodyguards, who came twice to bring him a package from home. On Friday, October 2, demonstrations reached their fourth night, and AUR leader George Simion called for a general mobilization, urging supporters to continue participating in the protests and announcing a large support rally on October 14 in front of the European Parliament.
Unauthorized Rallies Block Residential Access in Bucharest
Bucharest Gendarmerie stated that the daily gatherings outside the detention facility have failed to follow the authorization procedures outlined under Law no. 60/1991 regarding public assemblies. Authorities deployed dialogue teams to explain the legal requirement for an organizer while managing pedestrian flows and keeping access routes clear. According to accounts published on the Facebook group România Direct, after several nights where residents in nearby apartment blocks claimed they could not sleep, some threw eggs at the protesters, and unsatisfied residents threatened to throw buckets of fecal matter from their windows if protests continue.
Contravening Fines and Criminal Referrals Issued
Out of the 50 total sanctions issued under Law no. 61/1991 for violating social coexistence and public order norms, fines accumulated to 51,800 lei, up from 38,000 lei reported on Thursday. In addition to the contraventional fines, law enforcement drafted two criminal referral files under the Criminal Code. One involves article 372 for the unauthorized carrying or use of dangerous objects, while the other addresses article 257 for ultraj, or outrage against authority, mediafax.ro reported. Child Protection will also be notified because children are present at the demonstrations.
Activist Arrested and Child Protection Notified
Activist Cezar Avrămuță, widely known as the “Dacian Flagbearer” (Stegarul Dac), a 59-year-old man, was detained by prosecutors for 24 hours after allegedly striking a gendarme in the back on Friday evening outside the Central Arrest facility, according to agerpres.ro and mediafax.ro.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Bucharest Protests
What specific legal charges led to Călin Georgescu’s detention at the Central Arrest facility?
Călin Georgescu was placed under a 30-day preventive arrest by the Bucharest Court of Appeal following an investigation by DIICOT targeting allegations of forming an organized criminal group and aggravated fraud, as detailed by adevarul..ro.
How much have the cumulative fines reached during the demonstrations?
The total fines issued by gendarmes reached 50 sanctions, amounting to 51,800 lei, according to the Bucharest Gendarmerie’s updated figures.
What criminal investigations have been opened regarding protest participants?
Authorities have drawn up two criminal referral files under the Criminal Code for unauthorized possession of dangerous objects and for ultraj, following an incident where activist Cezar Avrămuță allegedly struck a gendarme on Friday evening, according to agerpres.ro and mediafax.ro.
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