IntMin Dan: Prosecution of Gendarmerie heads, another attempt at intimidation

The investigation of the General Prosecutor's Office of the protest on August 10, in which the heads of the Gendarmerie and a secretary of state with the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) are indicted, represent "another intimidation attempt from a state's fundamental institution", Minister of Interior Carmen Dan stated on Monday. 

"I do not see in this action anything else but another intimidation attempt of one of the state's fundamental institution, namely the Romanian Gendarmerie, that has important duties in ensuring public order. I am now addressing the gendarmes, not just the heads of the Gendarmerie - I hope that they will remain dedicated and unfailing to the vocation and principle of defending the state and defending and enforcing the law, because that is what the Gendarmerie must do. (...) I am firmly communicating that there are no issues with the functioning of the Gendarmerie and that the Gendarmerie will continue to perform its duty," said Carmen Dan. 

She specified that the status of the military very clearly specifies when the servicemen are discharged, namely when they are prosecuted. 

"Concerning the secretary of state, we have a very clear provision in the police force status that states that the police officer is discharged when the prosecution measure is ordered against him/her. Please remember that the heads of the Gendarmerie, the secretary of state found out about these situations from the media and again this is not something normal. What was going to happen was known a few days before," Carmen Dan added. 

She accused the Prosecutor's Office that it acted "on order", based on a "pre-established" direction. Furthermore, she maintained that there was no pressure from the Secretary of State Mihai Chirica on the prefect of the Capital to sign the intervention order at the protest of August 10. 

The order for the protesters of the August 10 rally in Bucharest's Victoriei Square to leave the area, issued by Laurentiu Cazan, the general director of the General Gendarmerie Directorate was given in violation of the legal provisions, says the Prosecutor's Office with the Supreme Court (PICCJ). 

The military prosecutors opened a criminal case file on how the gendarmes intervened during the August 10 protest. Over 770 criminal complaints have been filed with the Military Prosecutor's Office on behalf of some people who suffered as a result of the gendarmes' intervention.