What appeared to be a clandestine political summit between three of Romania’s most prominent public figures was, in reality, a carefully choreographed piece of political theater. An investigation has revealed that the blurry photographs depicting a secret meeting between Nicușor Dan, Victor Ponta, and Florian Coldea—released just days before the May 2025 presidential elections—were staged using actors to impersonate the politicians.
The operation, designed to create a narrative of illicit collusion, has now become the center of a criminal probe by the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT). According to sources familiar with the case, the production was not a spontaneous leak but a calculated campaign intended to influence voter behavior in the final hours of the electoral race.
The core of the investigation now focuses on cine a comandat operațiunea și cine a interpretat cele trei personaje, uncovering a network of production companies and political operatives who worked to simulate the encounter. While the images were presented to the public as authentic “paparazzi” shots, investigators have traced the production back to a coordinated effort involving professional image operators and a private residence rented for the occasion.
The ‘Cast’ and the Production
Prosecutors have identified and questioned the three individuals hired to play the roles of the political figures. The impersonators were chosen for their physical resemblance and were filmed in a manner that ensured the resulting images would be grainy and indistinct, thereby masking the deception.
| Political Figure | Actor/Impersonator |
|---|---|
| Nicușor Dan | Bratu Răzvan-Florin |
| Victor Ponta | Năstăsoiu Alexandru-Cristian |
| Florian Coldea | Cojocaru Marian |
The logistics of the shoot were reportedly managed by Bicuți Andrei-Gabriel, the administrator of S.C. Training Private Group S.R.L., and his father, Bicuți Gheorghe-Liviu. Evidence suggests that the planning for the simulation began as early as April 2025, a month before the images were leaked to the public.
Adding a layer of complexity to the case is the involvement of a technical “image operator” employed by Private Training Group SRL and associated with Cstudio Ro Film SRL. This individual, who provided the equipment and filmed the actors, was reportedly present at the filming of Nicușor Dan’s official campaign clip on March 6, 2025, suggesting a deep penetration of the campaign’s inner circle by those executing the deception.
Tracing the Command Chain
While the execution was handled by a technical crew, the strategic direction of the operation points toward higher political interests. Sources indicate that the operation was commissioned by liberal factions supporting Crin Antonescu in his bid for the presidency.
The timing of the release was surgical. The photographs were posted to Facebook by Elena Lasconi only three days before the first round of the presidential elections on May 4, 2025. By alleging that the meeting took place in December 2024, the architects of the leak attempted to suggest a long-standing, secret alliance between Dan, Ponta, and Coldea.
The setting for the “summit” was not a secure government facility or a private office in Bucharest, but a discreet private residence in the commune of Tunari, Ilfov. Journalists later discovered that the property was not a political safe house, but a rental available to the general public via platforms like Airbnb and Booking.
Political Fallout and Electoral Impact
The reaction from the targeted politicians was immediate. Nicușor Dan denied the meeting, noting that his only encounter with Florian Coldea had occurred years prior, in 2016, during a French National Day reception. Dan characterized the leak as a move to serve the “system” and the candidacy of Crin Antonescu.
Victor Ponta also pursued legal action, later confirming that DIICOT had identified four suspects—three young men and one older individual. Ponta noted that while the suspects themselves were not candidates, they were undoubtedly working on behalf of one.
The impact of the “leak” occurred during a period of intense volatility in the polls. Data from Atlasintel, published on May 2, 2025, showed a tight race among the top three candidates:
- George Simion (AUR): 30.2%
- Crin Antonescu (PNL-PSD-UDMR): 24.3%
- Nicușor Dan (Independent): 22.4%
- Victor Ponta: 11.3%
- Elena Lasconi: 6.3%
The proximity of the percentages between Antonescu and Dan suggests that any shift in public perception—even one sparked by blurry, fraudulent photographs—could have potentially altered the outcome of the first round.
Next Legal Steps
The investigation is now moving into a phase of determining the exact financial trail between the production company and the political entities that allegedly funded the operation. DIICOT is expected to examine communication logs and bank transfers to solidify the link between the Bicuți family and the Antonescu camp.
The next confirmed checkpoint in the case will be the formal indictment of the four suspects, as prosecutors seek to determine if the operation constitutes a broader conspiracy to defraud the electorate.
This is a developing story. We invite our readers to share their thoughts in the comments below or contact our newsroom with further information.
Disclaimer: This article reports on ongoing legal proceedings and allegations. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
