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Călin Georgescu, a Political Prisoner, Remains Under Arrest for Another 30 Days Romania takes pride in being a member of the European Union and NATO, a strategic partner of the United States, and a country that respects democracy and the rule of law. Yet Călin Georgescu and his lawyers should not have to learn about court decisions or legal measures taken against him through media reports citing unnamed sources, long before they receive any official notification. Once again, the media seems to know about developments in Călin Georgescu's legal cases before he or his lawyers do. We have repeatedly seen reports containing confidential information from case files, personal data, witness statements, and details of court decisions before these were officially communicated to Călin or his lawyers. The way this information reaches the public raises serious questions about confidentiality and respect for legal procedures. The public's right to information must never come at the expense of the fundamental rights of the person involved in legal proceedings, including the right to a defense, the right to a fair trial, the presumption of innocence, and the right to privacy. These differences in treatment have been particularly concerning since Călin's victory in the 2024 presidential election. The legal cases brought against him since then are politically motivated, and the allegations against him are unfounded. Fundamental rights must be respected equally, without exception. Yet in Călin's case, we have serious concerns about how the law is being interpreted and applied, and whether he is receiving a genuinely fair and impartial hearing. An independent justice system must guarantee the same rights to every Romanian, regardless of who they are or their political circumstances. Our family, including our minor children, is enduring what I can only describe as psychological torture. We are subjected to unlawful and abusive video surveillance inside our own home. Our home and accounts have also been placed under an unlawful seizure order, which disregards my rights as his wife, even though I am not a party to the cases or involved in the legal proceedings in any capacity. My children and I no longer feel safe in our own home. The very place where we should feel most protected has become a place of torture and fear. No legal process should ever turn a family's right to privacy, especially when minor children are involved, into a constant source of psychological terror. I will continue to speak out internationally about these abuses and violations of fundamental rights. What our family is experiencing is connected to Călin's decision to run for president, speak about peace and God, and win the first round with the support of more than two million Romanians and a declared campaign budget of zero. In Romania, love for one's country is met with prison bars and political persecution. Since December 6, 2024, when Romania's presidential election was illegally and unconstitutionally annulled while voting was already underway for hours, democracy has been nothing but a mask. We are witnessing the dawn of a new dictatorship. Cristela GEORGESCU 28 October 2026