George Simion (Photo: wikipedia.org)
Romania’s Foreign Intelligence Service is requesting Ukraine
and Moldova to declassify documents related to presidential candidate George
Simion, seeking evidence of Simion’s alleged meetings with Russian intelligence
officers.
Romanian outlet Digi24 reported this on Nov. 14, citing unnamed sources. Prior to a recent government meeting, Romanian PM Marcel Ciolacu stated that he discussed with the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service the matter of contacting Ukraine and Moldova.
Simion leads the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) and is barred from entry into both Moldova and Ukraine. Romanian authorities believe that Ukrainian and Moldovan security services may have relevant evidence which served as the basis for declaring the politician a persona non grata.
According to the report, Ioan Chirtes, head of the parliamentary intelligence committee, claimed the documents contain “accusations and clear evidence” of meetings between Simion and officers of Russia’s GRU foreign intelligence service.
Christian Terhes, a presidential candidate from Romania’s National Conservative Party and a Member of the European Parliament, stated there are recordings by Ukrainian services of several of Simion’s meetings, particularly in Ukraine’s Chernivtsi Oblast, with individuals linked to various Russian intelligence agencies.
Simion denies any meetings with GRU representatives. He has also announced he will withdraw from the presidential race if photos of him with GRU officers are made public.
The first round of Romania’s presidential election will take place on Nov. 24, the second on Dec. 8, and parliamentary elections are scheduled for Dec. 1.
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