A Romanian court has sentenced Alexandru Pişcan, to five and a half years in prison for high treason. This is not the first such case in Romania, highlighting Russia’s subversive and espionage activities in the country.
According to the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), Alexandru Pişcan had been gathering intelligence on NATO and Romanian military facilities near the city of Tulcea since 2022. He photographed military equipment, tracked troop movements, and compiled detailed reports on the deployment of forces near the Ukrainian border.
It was revealed that this information was passed to the Russian Embassy in Bucharest, where it was used to analyze the capabilities of Western allies in the region. Russia conducts such espionage operations due to Romania’s strategic location as a NATO member state bordering Ukraine.
Alexandru Pişcan was apprehended in May 2024 following a thorough investigation, during which law enforcement gathered substantial evidence, including photographs, surveillance logs, and communications with Russian diplomats. During the trial, the defendant admitted his guilt.
The Bucharest court found him guilty of high treason and espionage. The five-and-a-half-year prison sentence serves as a clear signal of Romania’s serious intent to counter any threats posed by Russia.
Tensions between Russia and NATO countries continue to rise. Romania, as a key logistical hub for Western aid to Ukraine, has become a focus of increased interest from Russian intelligence services. Experts note that such incidents underscore the need to strengthen security measures in the region.
“Espionage activities on Romanian territory pose a direct threat to our national security and NATO’s collective defense. We will not allow our country to become a base for hostile operations,” emphasized a DIICOT representative.
