Romanian MEP Diana Șoșoacă Indicted for Deprivation of Liberty of Italian Journalists

Romanian MEP Diana Șoșoacă and her former husband, Silvestru Șoșoacă, have been indicted by prosecutors for unlawfully depriving four Italian journalists of their liberty in December 2021. The incident occurred after an interview at Șoșoacă’s law office in Bucharest, where journalists from Italian broadcaster Rai Uno claimed they were held against their will.

Prosecutors from the General Prosecutor’s Office stated that the detention was triggered by Șoșoacă’s dissatisfaction with the questions asked during the interview, and was not related to any criminal activity by the journalists. Silvestru Șoșoacă is also accused of using violence against one of the journalists, striking them and tearing their protective mask.

The case will be tried at the High Court of Cassation and Justice. The European Parliament lifted Șoșoacă’s immunity earlier this year, clearing the way for prosecution. Șoșoacă, known for her pro-Russian stance, has dismissed the charges as politically motivated.

If convicted, the offense carries a prison sentence of one to seven years. The trial is expected to draw significant attention as it tests the limits of parliamentary immunity in Romania.

Article and image source: romania-insider.com