Romanian Police Chiefs Indicted For Violence Against Protesters

Romanian prosecutors on Friday summoned several senior police chiefs to notify them that they are being prosecuted for coordinating the violent intervention and use of tear gas on an anti-government protest on August 10 that left hundreds wounded.

The head of the Gendarmerie riot police, Catalin Sindile, his deputy, Sebastian Cucos, and the head of the Bucharest division of the riot police, Laurentiu Cazan, were summoned to receive official notification that they will be prosecuted for abuse of power and excess force.

They were met by a handful of protesters gathered at the entrance, chanting "Go to jail!", "Resign!" and "Murderer!"

A man who was among the wounded during the protest on August 10 died several weeks later and most activists have related his death to his injuries. The investigation is still ongoing.  

After the Attorney General's Office received over 650 complaints from people wounded on August 10, it summoned a number of politicians and police chiefs to explain their conduct.

The investigation led to rifts in the ruling Social Democrat Party, with Bucharest mayor Gabriela Firea accusing Minister of Interior Carmen Dan of trying to scapegoat Bucharest governor Speranta Cliseru for the heavy-handed intervention.

Dan, a close ally to party chief Liviu Dragnea, a hearing in the Human Rights Committee in parliament on Tuesday denied having coordinated the intervention. She also defended the riot police, stating that they acted within the law after they were attacked by protesters.

"Sadly, I noticed that the riot police are not of any concern to this commission," she told MPs on Tuesday.

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