On Thursday, March 20, prosecutors from the Romanian General Prosecutor’s Office are carrying out 17 search operations at residences in Bucharest and various counties. These actions are aimed at influencing figures such as Bogdan Peșchir. Makaveli , who supported controversial politician Călin Georgescu through online platforms during the 2024 election campaign. This case includes allegations of vote buying, with investigators seeking to determine connections among those implicated and potential co-conspirators involved in electoral misconduct.

Apart from the capital, law enforcement is carrying out searches in the counties of Brașov, Botoșani, Călărași, Dolj, Galați, Giurgiu, Maramureș, Mureș, and Timiș. In addition to Bogdan Peșchir and Makaveli, another influencer being investigated is Alin Borcan from Timiș, as reported. G4Media .

Makaveli, known as Alexandru Virgil Zidaru, entered the political arena while concurrently using TikTok to spread disdain towards TV channels and conventional media outlets, notably Antenna 3. Additionally, he had ties with the far-right and contentious politician Diana Soroaca, who was disqualified from contesting the presidency following this. Constitutional Court considered her unsuitable for the position of president.

Bogdan Peșchir, conversely, has become one of the most recognizable personalities on TikTok without actually producing content himself. His fame comes from his involvement as massive donations He provided support to content creators, which includes backers of Călin Georgescu. In total, he funded Călin Georgescu’s 2024 campaign with more than €380,000, as reported by the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI).

Peșchir has been associated with firms involved in cryptocurrencies that belong to Gabriel Prodănescu, a dual national who moved to South Africa in 1995. In the run-up to the 2024 presidential election, an enterprise based in South Africa reached out to TikTok content creators in Romania, proposing they be paid EUR 1,000 per person for making promotion clips.

A probe conducted by Info Sud-Est and G4Media reveals that influencers backing Călin Georgescu’s bid received payments through TikTok for endorsing the pro-Kremlin contender. Additionally, records released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and SRI suggest that these influencers played roles in advocating for and purchasing votes.

Once the documents were released, these influencers dissociated themselves from Georgescu.

In another instance, the Prosecutors' Office affiliated with the High Court of Cassation and Justice charged five people with charges including instigating violence, hate, or discrimination; making threats; glorifying those convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes; and openly supporting fascist, legionary, racist, or xenophobic beliefs, ideas, or teachings. These allegations stem from provocative posts shared on social media by followers of Calin Georgescu following the annulment of Romania’s second-round presidential election.

radu@romania-insider.com

(Photo credit: Inquam Photos | Octav Ganea )