Horațiu Potra remains under house arrest in attempted coup case

The Bucharest Court of Appeal has ruled to maintain house arrest for Horațiu Potra, rejecting his request to switch to judicial control. Potra is among 22 defendants, including former presidential candidate Călin Georgescu, facing charges related to an attempted coup against the constitutional order.

Prosecutors allege that Potra led a group of mercenaries who planned to infiltrate protests following the annulment of the December 2024 presidential elections to incite violence and chaos. The charges against Potra also include violations regarding the regime of weapons, ammunition, and explosive materials.

The case has moved to the merits phase following a decision by the High Court of Cassation and Justice on August 6, which dismissed appeals and allowed the trial to proceed. The court's decision to maintain house arrest for Potra remains subject to review within 60 days and can be contested within 48 hours.