BUCHAREST - Romanian prosecutors on Friday called for the temporary arrest of a mercenary who stashed illegal weapons and cash at home and 20 other people with links to the far-right frontrunner in last year's canceled presidential election pending an investigation.

Government cost cuts to curb Romania's chronic budget deficit and avert a ratings downgrade are causing a social backlash that risks boosting support for the far-right pro-Moscow candidate in May's presidential rerun.

During a meeting in Saudi Arabia, Russian officials requested the withdrawal of NATO troops from Eastern Europe. However, the US delegation rejected the demand, stated Cristian Diaconescu, head of the Romanian presidential office and defense and national security advisor,

They just arrested the person who won the most votes in the Romanian presidential election. This is messed up.”

The military deadlock, fatigue of public opinion and fear of escalation are all working in Moscow's favor, to the detriment of Europe, at a time when the latter is being abandoned by its American ally.

Allegations by Romanian adviser on defense and national security 'not true,' 'do not correspond to reality,' Kremlin spokesman says - Anadolu Ajansı

CHISINAU (Reuters) - Moldova's government, a fierce critic of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, appealed to the country's clergy on Sunday to "tell the truth" about the war, saying that Moscow's military actions had destroyed some 500 places of worship.

Romania's three opposition far-right parties filed a motion of no confidence in the pro-European coalition government on Tuesday, a move likely to fail but also to boost the parties' public profile ahead of a re-run presidential election.

Government cost cuts to curb Romania's chronic budget deficit and avert a ratings downgrade are causing a social backlash that risks boosting support for the far-right pro-Moscow candidate in May's presidential rerun.

Moscow’s demand rejected by Washington but allies fear Trump could yet allow restoration of former Soviet bloc