Romanian Riot Police Summoned to Explain Violent Intervention

After the Romanian General Prosecutor's Office received over 650 complaints from people who suffered after riot police violently intervened in the anti-government protests in Bucharest on August 10, it summoned a number of figures to explain their conduct on Thursday, including the head of the Special Gendarmerie Brigade, Colonel Catalin Paraschiv.

The General Prosecutor's Office took the case over from military prosecutors some days after the protests.

"I took a risk when I led my people without any problem. I do not want to give an interview," Paraschiv, the main figure leading the riot police leader in the city's Victory Square, told the press after he left.

The Prefect of Bucharest, the Speranta Cliseru, who signed the riot police intervention order, was also summoned to the Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday.

She argued that she had "strictly" respected the law when signing the gendarmes' intervention order in the August 10 protest in Victory Square.

Cliseru, a close ally of the ruling Social Democrats, the PSD, said she was not in the square herself on August 10.

This contradicts with statements made by Interior Minister Carmen Dan - as well of those made by the coordinator of the intervention of the gendarmes, Laurentiu Cazan - who said the prefect was present there at 4pm.

The opposition, led by the National Liberal Party, PNL, has asked for Minister Dan to be called before the hearings as well, saying she was also involved in the events.

But Dan has denied responsibility for the violence.

"I didn't exceed my legal prerogatives in any way. The Gendarmerie coordinated all its intervention under the supervision of a military prosecutor who was present in the square ... I have nothing to blame myself for. I...

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