The "10 August" file: Former heads of the Gendarmerie summoned to be heard in premiere at the Military Tribunal

Former heads of the Romanian Gendarmerie, Laurențiu Cazan, Sebastian Cucoș, and Cătălin Sindile, are summoned on Monday to testify before the judges of the Bucharest Military Tribunal regarding the orders given on the night of August 10, 2018, when gendarmes brutally intervened against peaceful protesters in Victory Square. Cătălina Hopârteanu, the coordinator of the Declic campaign, emphasized that it is essential for them to explain who asked them to act against their own citizens. The three former heads are accused of abuse of office, considering that their intervention led to the injury of hundreds of people. The hearings take place in a critical context, as the facts in the case will be time-barred in October 2026. The Military Tribunal has accepted the lawyers' request to waive the hearing of 373 witnesses, thus accelerating the process.

The gathered evidence shows that the law enforcement forces used a dangerous arsenal, including tear gas grenades, causing serious injuries to the protesters. The case was reopened after Ioan Crăciuneanu, a victim of the violence, contested the initial dismissal. The Declic community financially supported the effort, analyzing hundreds of hours of video recordings to gather evidence.