Prosecutor General Alex Florenta said on Tuesday that, starting in November last year, extremist communities have intensified their use of hate speech and incitement to violence.
Speaking at a press conference, Florenta outlined the hybrid attacks targeting Romania, which allegedly also involved former presidential candidate Calin Georgescu.
"Since November 2024, extremist communities have intensified narratives and messages inciting hatred and violence, linked to the campaign of an independent candidate, creating a climate of panic in society. The surge began during the first round of the elections and grew systematically through AI-generated hate speech. Such narratives and methods of online content production match the action patterns of the Russian Federation, having also been reported in countries such as the Republic of Moldova and Georgia. Pro-Russian propaganda channels were also used," the prosecutor general stated.
According to him, social media platforms have hosted incitement to hatred and violence, including threats against authorities. Most of these were framed around the idea of a "general revolt," with references to the December 1989 Revolution intended to exploit nostalgic sentiments.
"Another element of hybrid warfare present in Romania is political subversion, which can take various forms. On the one hand, it involves carefully cultivated business and media networks sometimes below detection thresholds as well as domestic political sources, aimed at influencing government decisions. We recall the visits paid to the Russian Embassy by several Romanian parliamentarians over recent years. An important current aspect in Romania is also the instrumentalization of extremist groups," Prosecutor General Alex Florenta further specified.
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