Radio România Internațional

Tag: Prosecutor General Augustin Lazar

  • December 24, 2018 UPDATE

    December 24, 2018 UPDATE


    CHRISTMAS – On December 25th, Orthodox, Greek-Catholic and Catholic Christians from all over the world, including in Romania, which is a predominantly Orthodox country, celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. A famous tradition in Romania on Christmas Eve is caroling, with carolers symbolizing the angels and shepherds who announced the Birth of Jesus. They make wishes of good health and wealth and receive fruit, bagels, sweets or money. The old rite Christians who form the majority in Russia, Ukraine, Serbia and Georgia will celebrate Christmas on January 7. These days many pilgrims visit the holy sites from Israel and the Nativity Church in Bethlehem.



    MESSAGES – On Monday, Romanias president Klaus Iohannis conveyed a Christmas message to all Romanians, saying that the birth of Jesus Christ is a celebration of the miracle of life and of kindness, compassion and generosity. “In the spirit of these holy celebrations, we should take care of each other and of our country. If we are better each day, we will all be better together”, the presidents message also reads. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has wished all Romanians good health and well being. The custodian of the Romanian Crown, Margareta, has too sent a Christmas message, saying she promised to carry on the work started by her father, King Michael, towards ensuring Romanias prosperity and stability an strengthening its international position.



    JUSTICE – The Romanian justice minister Tudorel Toader has announced he will finalize, on Thursday, December 27, the procedure for the dismissal of Romanias Prosecutor General Augustin Lazar, which was started in October. Toader accused Lazar of professional and managerial misconduct and took legal action against him. The issue is to be judged by the High Court of Cassation and Justice. The opponents of the governing coalition claim that the dismissal of Augustin Lazar, which follows that of the former head of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, Laura Codruta Kovesi, was a form of political vendetta and an attempt to stop the anti-corruption fight. In another development, minister Toader has announced he has signed the documents for the release from prison of the former Romanian minister Elena Udrea and the former chief of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, Alina Bica, who are in prison in Costa Rica upon the request of the Romanian authorities. The two had received definitive sentences in Romania in cases of high-level corruption. The High Court of Cassation and Justice decided on the suspension of the imprisonment conviction in their case, after the Constitutional Court of Romania ruled as illegal the setting up of the panels of 5 judges at the High Court of Cassation and Justice. The ruling also led to the suspension of the imprisonment convictions in many other cases involving former ministers and incumbent politicians.



    BREXIT – Romania supports the Brexit deal as well as the political declaration on the future framework of the post-Brexit relation between the EU and the UK, the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu told the BBC on Sunday. He added that, from Romanias point of view, it was important for the UK to stay as close as possible to the EU. Teodor Melescanu also said that Romania envisaged to start bilateral negotiations with the UK as part of the strategic partnership concluded by the two sides. Minister Melescanu also recalled that, at the meeting held with the former British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, he received assurances that the more than 400 thousand Romanians living in the UK would not be affected by Brexit and he gave the example of the Romanian physicians and nurses who went to work in the UK. Boris Johnson had stated that if those people were to leave the UK, the countrys healthcare system would be severely affected.



    INDONESIA – The toll in the aftermath of the tsunami that hit Indonesia following a volcanic eruption has reach some 400 dead and more than 1,400 injured, the National Agency for Disaster Management announced on Monday. More than one hundred people are still reported missing. Hundreds of buildings were destroyed by the tsunami that hit the southern coasts of Sumatra and the western side of the Java island on Saturday.



    BORDER TRAFFIC – More than 250 thousand people, both Romanian and foreign citizens, have crossed Romanias borders over the past 24 hours in more than 60 thousand cars, according to the border police. Of them, as many as 170 thousand entered Romania while almost 83 thousand left the country. In the same period of time, the border police identified 30 cases of crimes and 37 cases of offences perpetrated by both Romanian and foreign citizens. Also, 29 foreign citizens were denied entry to Romania as they did not comply with the legal provisions, and 16 Romanian citizens were prevented from leaving the country for various legal reasons.



    IMMIGRANTS – The border police found in Curtici, near the border with Hungary, eight people from Iran who were trying to exit Romania illegally, using forged documents. The eight were travelling on an international train, along the Bucharest-Vienna route and presented IDs issued in Slovakia, Slovenia and Luxembourg. The adults, six men and two women, said they had got the documents from unknown individuals, because they wanted to get to the West. The border police are now conducting investigations in order to take the necessary legal measures.




  • October 25, 2018 UPDATE

    October 25, 2018 UPDATE

    ARMY DAY – The Romanian Army Day was celebrated on Thursday in all
    garrisons in the country, in the countries where Bucharest has accredited
    military attaches and in all military bases and theatres of operations where
    Romanian military are dispatched. Efforts must continue to modernize the army
    in line with NATO standards, President Klaus Iohannis has said, adding that the
    Defense Ministry should make transparent use of the 2% of the GDP it has been
    allotted. The President said Romania is an important pillar of stability in the
    region and a reliable NATO and EU partner. The army is a fundamental state
    institution contributing to Romania’s credibility worldwide, Prime Minister
    Viorica Dancila also said. In turn, Defense Minister Mihai Fifor said the Romanian
    Army Day is an important landmark, not only in the military traditions
    timetable, but also for the entire nation. According to him, thanks to the
    ultimate sacrifice made by its heroes, Romania was among the independent states
    of Europe in the late 19th century, and the descendants of these
    brave people, made possible the creation of the Romanian unitary state, on
    December 1, 1918. Also on Thursday, 633 Romanian military who fell in the line
    of duty in Stalingrad were reburied in the Romanian Memorial Cemetery in
    Rossoshka, in the Russian Federation. The earthy remains of 1,644 Romanian
    military who died in the line of duty in the toughest battle of the past
    century were entombed in this memorial cemetery, laid out in 2015.




    PROSECUTOR GENERAL – The prosecutors’ section of the Superior Council
    of Magistracy has announced that it will hear Romania’s Prosecutor General,
    Augustin Lazar, on November 13, before expressing an opinion on the decision
    made by the justice minister Tudorel Toader, to initiate the procedure to
    remove Lazar from office. The opinion issued by the Superior Council of
    Magistracy is only consultative, as the Prosecutor General is nominated and
    sacked by the President of Romania. Toader is accusing Lazar mostly of failing
    to comply with his legal duties. Lazar says however that observing
    constitutional principles and values has always been the underlying principle
    of all the decisions he has made. President Iohannis said he appreciates the
    activity of the prosecutor general and says Toader’s decision is inadequate and
    bound to undermine trust in the system and stir the concern of Romania’s
    European partners. The President also called for Toader’s resignation.




    NATO EXERCISE – NATO is carrying out in
    Norway the biggest military exercise since the end of the Cold War. Trident Juncture 18 will
    involve around 50,000 personnel from NATO Allies and partner countries, about
    250 aircraft, 65 vessels and up to 10,000 vehicles. It takes place from October
    25 to November 7 in central and eastern Norway, the surrounding areas of the
    North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea, including Iceland and the airspace of
    Finland and Sweden, Reuters reports. NATO Secretary General, Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg, said the security climate has
    significantly deteriorated in Europe over the past few years. He said that
    Trident Juncture will send a clear message that NATO does not look for
    confrontation, but is ready to defend all its allies from all threats. The
    spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, criticized in
    early October what she called the sound of arms.




    BALLISTIC – The European countries
    which are hosting US missile systems will become Russia’s targets in the event
    of a war- Russian president Vladimir Putin has warned against the backdrop of
    the Trump Administration’s announcement to withdraw the US from the
    Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The White House leader claims Russia
    has violated the Treaty. In response, the Putin Administration has repeatedly
    said that the ballistic systems placed by the US in Europe, including Romania,
    are violations of the agreement. In response, the Romanian Foreign Ministry
    says the reference to the Deveselu antiballistic shield is irrelevant in the
    context of the Treaty, given that this system is not part of it. The Ministry
    recalls that the anti-ballistic shield is purely defensive and represents a
    response to current threats, also observing international commitments. Russia
    has received all assurances and explanations both from Romania and NATO in that
    respect, the Ministry also writes.




    AMCHAM – President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday received a delegation
    of the American Chamber of Commerce in the EU, discussing aspects about
    bilateral relations between Romania and the United States, the EU-US
    trans-Atlantic partnership, as well as Romania’s presidency of the European
    Council in 2019. Tlaks also focused on Brexit and the business environment.
    President Iohannis said Romania’s Strategic Partnership with the US is key to
    the security and prosperity of both countries, while trade and investment play
    an important role. AmCham EU is an organization representing the interests of
    150 US businesses in Europe.




    NOMINATION – University Professor Nicolae Hurduc was nominated by
    Prime Minister Viorica Dancila to fill the position of Minister of Research.
    Hurduc is the dean of the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environment
    Protection with the Gheorghe Asachi University in Iasi and is known as the
    most reputed researchers in the field of macro-molecular chemistry. He is also
    one of Romania’s three representatives in the European Organization for Nuclear
    Research. We recall the outgoing Minister of Research and Innovation, Nicolae
    Burnete, resigned on August 31.




    (Translated
    by D. Vijeu & V. Palcu)

  • The National Anticorruption Directorate responds to accusations

    The National Anticorruption Directorate responds to accusations

    The public scandal revolving around the National Anticorruption Directorate started after former Social-Democrat MP Vlad Cosma claimed that prosecutors with the Ploiesti branch of the National Anticorruption Directorate used him to fake evidence against former Social-Democrat Prime Minister Victor Ponta and former MP Sebastian Ghita, who in the meantime fled to Serbia. Cosma has grounded his accusations on a series of recordings which are yet to be authenticated. The anticorruption chief prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi called a press conference to respond to the accusations, saying that judges found no irregularities in the way anticorruption prosecutors in Ploiesti handled the case, whereby Vlad and Mircea Cosma, the latter his father, were sentenced to 5 and 8 years in prison, respectively, in first instance.



    Laura Codruta Kovesi: “The Judicial Inspection Corps is currently conducting an investigation. I have been asked what I did and now I respond: I did what the law stipulates. Anticorruption prosecutors do not fake evidence. They observe the law when gathering evidence. The manner in which prosecutors carry out a criminal investigation is subject to judicial control. Judges examine all our investigations to see if prosecutors observe the law when filing evidence”.



    The National Anticorruption Directorate, Laura Codruta Kovesi went on to say, has its own verification mechanisms, so that if a prosecutor breaks the law, the blame should not be cast on the entire institution. Most of these accusations, aimed at undermining the activity of the Directorate, come from people who themselves are subject to investigation, the chief prosecutor has recalled. Kovesi believes this is an attack on the justice system designed to weaken state institutions and humiliate Romanian citizens. It is a festival of false or partially false declarations, coming from people who’ve had run-ins with the law.



    Laura Codruta Kovesi said she has no reasons to step down. Also referring to a campaign targeting Romania’s judicial institutions, Prosecutor General Augustin Lazar disavowed what he believes to be actions meant to cause public unrest, instigated by certain politicians who are undergoing criminal proceedings with the purpose of having prosecutors removed from key leadership positions. In turn, the president of the Superior Council of Magistracy, Simona Camelia Marcu, believes the current public debate focusing on the activity of the National Anticorruption Directorate could diminish the authority of courts and hinder judicial proceedings. On the other hand, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila refrained from commenting on the possible demise of chief prosecutor Kovesi, demanded by many voices in the ruling coalition.



    Viorica Dancila: “I can’t say whether a person should or should not be in charge of the National Anticorruption Directorate. The important thing is that citizens continue to trust state institutions and the justice system. We shouldn’t accuse the entire justice system, but citizens’ trust in this system must be restored. I for one, as Prime Minister of Romania, am concerned and uncomfortable with the way evidence can be brought against a prime minister”.



    We recall that the left-of-center ruling coalition in Romania, made up of the Social-Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, have referred to the existence of a so-called “parallel state”, made up of prosecutors and secret agents who are trying to fabricate evidence and compromise political leaders in the Parliament majority. Some political pundits say the repeated attacks on the National Anticorruption Directorate, coming from people of doubtful reliability, adding to the controversial modifications brought the justice laws, are part of a poorly dissimulated effort to subordinate the justice system to political party interests.


  • The Week in Review (March 26-31)

    The Week in Review (March 26-31)

    The Prince of Wales on a formal visit to Bucharest


    On the very day the UK officially launched Brexit talks, with London triggering Art. 50 of the Treaty on European Union, the British Crown Prince Charles started an official visit to Bucharest as part of the European tour. As the Prince of Wales said upon receiving the “Star of Romania” National Order, in Rank of Grand Cross, from President Klaus Iohannis, for the 20 years since he has been visiting Romania he has tried to help Romanians remember the distinctiveness of their culture, their architectural legacy and, above all, their potential today. Charles also mentioned that he had been impressed to hear about the sufferings of Romanians under the communist regime and about the destruction brought about by that regime at a human and cultural level. During the award ceremony, President Iohannis appreciated the dedication and involvement of the Prince of Wales in charity work in Romania, as well as his contribution to promoting Romanias image abroad.



    Klaus Iohannis: “Your Royal Highness involvement in a large number of village restoration projects, in promoting local products, in traditional crafts training and education, has been a valuable contribution to raising awareness on a life style in which nature, tradition and modern man may coexist in harmony. We are also grateful to Your Royal Highness for expressing your admiration for Romanias spiritual and cultural heritage, every time you talk about Romania and its citizens.”



    The agenda of this second official visit to Romania by the Prince of Wales also included talks with PM Sorin Grindeanu, when one of the topics approached was the development and strengthening of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the UK, based on improved security cooperation and on substantial economic ties. HRH Charles also had meetings with members of the Royal Family of Romania.



    The future of the EU under debate


    Romania does not support a concentric circles Europe, nor a multi-speed European Union, which may lead to a deepening of social and economic divides between Member States. This is Romanias official stand, as reiterated by President Klaus Iohannis in Malta, the country that is currently holding the rotating presidency of the EU. In his address at the Congress of the European Peoples Party, the head of the Romanian state said the Union was at a crossroads, facing complex crises of unprecedented intensity. Terrorist attacks, migration, nationalism, populism, Brexit and, more than anything else, the escalation of Euro skepticism have become major challenges, Klaus Iohannis underlined. In Bucharest, the Romanian authorities announced that Romanias main objective during the negotiations for Brexit was to ensure the observance of the rights of the Romanian citizens working and studying in Great Britain. According to estimates, more than 250,000 Romanians are living in the UK.



    Romanias Prosecutor General and the Chief Prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate still in office


    Romanias Prosecutor General, Augustin Lazăr, and the Chief Prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA), Laura Codruţa Kovesi, will not be replaced. The Justice Minister, Tudorel Toader, stated that he made the assessment of the heads of the two institutions without any external interference or pressure. He explained that the DNA, when investigating emergency government decree no. 13, assumed the responsibility to undertake an investigation into a domain that goes beyond their legal authority, and the magistrates of the Constitutional Court re-established the balance between the state powers through their verdict. We recall that through decree no. 13 the coalition government made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberal and Democrats tried to amend the criminal anti-corruption legislation, which triggered large-scale street protests.



    The Justice Minister Tudorel Toader also announced the intention of monitoring the activity of prosecutors:


    “In the spirit of observing the rule of law, we believe it opportune to initiate a careful monitoring of the activity of prosecutors working for the DNA, the DIICOT- Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, and the Prosecutors Office with the High Court of Cassation and Justice. The monitoring should be made by the justice minister, and, as far as I am concerned, I can assure you that Ill do my job without any interference that could affect the independence of prosecutors.”



    As an avowed supporter of the prosecutors anti-corruption efforts, President Klaus Iohannis says he is content with the activity of Romanias Prosecutor General and of the Chief Prosecutor of the DNA. The Romanian President does not share the opinion of the Justice Minister regarding DNAs allegedly overstepping its authority: “I do expect the justice minister to support the Public Ministry, the Prosecutor General, the Chief Prosecutor of the DNA, the Chief Prosecutor of the DIICOT for them to better comply with their missions. If they work together in what I have called loyal cooperation, the Justice Ministry and the Public Ministry could make things right, unlike the moment when, early this year, they had divergent opinions over decree no. 13.”



    The PM Sorin Grindeanu has asked to be constantly informed on the results of the continuous monitoring of the prosecutors activity and has given assurances that the Government is firmly committed to combating corruption.