Claudiu Richard Târziu is a Romanian right-wing politician. He was the co-president of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), a pro-Russian political force in Romania that earned popularity after its incredibly high votes in the 2020 Romanian legislative polls. At the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Târziu expressed support for Russia’s incursion.
He also supported improving relations between Romania and Russia. While showcasing a comparable ideological plurality, the AUR is best defined as a national conservative party moving toward far-right ultranationalism. Ironically, the AUR imprints itself as a staunchly “anti-communist” force, while being in acceptance of nationalising most industries. It is also visibly populist: declaring a “substantial support for all unions”, but tying itself to any sort of scandal that would increase political support. The venue of the AUR also includes diverse anti-EU propaganda.
According to ex-Romanian Intelligence Service Director Eduard Hellvig, AUR’s Claudiu Târziu deliberately selects topics in line with Hungarian far-right politicians while conforming to the interests of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On 24 January, the Day of Unification of the Romanian Principalities, Târziu drove a speech, concerning reintegrating the Romanian state within its natural boundaries. “We will not be truly sovereign until we reintegrate the Romanian state within its natural borders, with Bessarabia, Northern Bucovina, southern Bessarabia, Herţa county, Transcarpathia”, he stated, referring to regions that belonged to Romania, and presently part of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.
Hellvig notices a connection between Târziu’s statement and László Torocskai’s declaration that Hungary should reclaim parts from Ukraine if it fails the war with Russia. The annexation of Ukrainian regions is a recurrent theme among the radical right in Romania.
Experts assume that Russian sources boosted Tarziu’s statements and emphasised these ultra-nationalist assertions by Hungary and Romania to Ukrainian territory. Earlier, before the full-scale attack, Russia presented the idea of a “division of Ukraine” between Russia and the West. Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior Russian officials revitalised this narrative in December 2023, saying that Ukraine has historical “territorial disputes” with Poland, Romania and Hungary, but can hold its “sovereignty” if the entire land consists of the borders of Lviv Oblast.
Claudiu Târziu has also accused the Ukrainian government of meddling in Romania’s internal affairs and trying to scare Romanian communities in Ukraine and the Romanian Orthodox Church. Târziu disavowed AUR’s involvement in any operations within Ukrainian territory and attacked the Kyiv Post for allegedly defaming the party.
He went on to blame the ministry’s main intelligence directorate for being the successor to the Soviet military spy assistance, the GRU and blamed it for hostile activities against Romania and its residents since 1991. The far-right party has resisted Romanian aid to Ukraine and the transit of Ukrainian agricultural products via Romania, while its leader, George Simion, has been barred from entering both Ukraine and Moldova.
