(ANSA-AFP) - BUCHAREST, MAR 5 - Romania on Wednesday ordered
two Russian diplomats expelled, after slamming Russian
"interference" and criticism of an indictment of far-right
presidential candidate Calin Georgescu. Russia's military
attache and his deputy in Bucharest were declared "personae non
gratae" by foreign ministry of Romania, which is a NATO member
country. It said the two carried out activities contravening the
Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, without giving
details. Local media reported that the deputy attache's name
appeared in an investigation into Georgescu. Allegedly, one of
Georgescu's associates telephoned the Russian embassy, seeking
to contact the deputy. Georgescu -- who denies any links to
Moscow -- shot to prominence almost overnight to unexpectedly
win the first round of a presidential election last November.
Romania's constitutional court annulled the election just before
the second round was to be held in December, after claims of
Russian meddling and a "massive" social media promotion of
Georgescu. Last week, prosecutors indicted Georgescu on numerous
charges, including making "false statements" over his campaign
financing. Russian secret services claimed the charges against
Georgescu were "supported by the EU leadership", Romanian media
reported. (ANSA-AFP).
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