Activist Sergiu Ungureanu demands that harassment through unlawful criminal investigation practices – such as wiretapping, house searches and video recording on bogus grounds of people who are critical of the authorities – must stop. The activist told a press conference that he has been himself a victim of such proceedings initiated last August.

After sharing a number of posts on Facebook, Ungureanu was accused of instigating unrest at rallies held by the opposition on August 26 and 27, 2018. This happened after outlets affiliated with the then governing party PDM published materials which Ungureanu believes misinterpreted his words. His home was searched and he was placed under a travel ban.

“Those reports claimed I was plotting civil unrest together with PAS and PPDA, which is totally absurd. There’s no truth in those reports,” said Sergiu Ungureanu.

Attending the same press conference, activist Alexei Dimitrov spoke about similar practices. “Harassment against citizen activists through fines and criminal proceedings is continuing and has even intensified,” he said.

Alexei Dimitrov has received as many as 15 “unlawful” fines already, the latest ones in a conflict with the lawyer Ala Popa, who seems to enjoy protection from her former husband, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Igor Popa. According to Alexei Dimitrov, although there is footage showing that he was physically assaulted, he got a 1,000 lei fine for hooliganism and another one for violating personal data for recording a video of the lawyer, despite doing it in a public space.

The activists request that such abuses are punished.