Scores of people have filed complaints against the Romanian Gendarmerie and prosecutors have launched a probe of the military security force’s violent intervention against anti-corruption protesters.
Romanian military prosecutors started hearing witnesses on Monday to probe the alleged excessive use of force by the country’s Gendarmerie military security force and riot police at an anti-government rally on Friday night when 452 people were wounded in clashes between protesters and security forces.
By Monday morning, at least 33 people had filed official complaints to the military prosecutors after they were injured when riot police dispersed protesters in Bucharest with tear gas and water cannon.
Military prosecutor Ionel Corbu, who is heading the investigation, told journalists on Monday morning that he was probing the alleged excessive use of force, but also negligence on duty, after two gendarmes were ambushed by the crowd and left behind by their colleagues.
“For the moment we have requested documents on how the mission was organised. We will also call gendarmes to the hearings,” Corbu said.
A woman in a wheelchair who was filmed being roughly treated by riot police on Friday came to the prosecutor’s office to give testimony on Monday.
Meanwhile anti-corruption activists said they are planning a new protest on Monday evening, after over 10,000 people showed up on Sunday for a third day of anti-government rallies in Bucharest. Thousands also protested in other cities across the country.
Following the violence on Friday, security forces arrested and charged two people for allegedly attacking two gendarmes. One of the suspects was apprehended at Sunday’s protest in Victoriei Square.
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