The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ) protested against a military exercise involving military aircraft flying over settlements at low altitude in Transylvania. The party said that it was an act of intimidation against the Hungarian minority and paints them as a security risk.
“Such messages are unequivocal proof that Romania does not respect the Hungarian community and they don’t consider us citizens of equal standing,” RMDSZ MP Attila Korodi said in the lower chamber of the Romanian Parliament on Tuesday.
The Romanian Defense Ministry announced a week-long military exercise, including Spartan transport and F-16 Falcon fighter planes flying over Szeklerland at an altitude of only 300 meters. The council of Sepsiszentgyörgy warned that the planes will be taking part in a military exercise this week with a route of Gyergyószentmiklós/Gheorgheni – Csíkszereda/Miercurea Ciuc – Sepsiszentgyörgy/Sfântu Gheorghe – Székelyudvarhely/Odorheiu Secuiesc.
The military planes above Szeklerland are part of the Concordia 19 military exercise taking place in Hargita/Harghita and Kovászna/Covasna Counties as well as in Bucharest. The main phase will be held in Csíkszereda, where – according to a fictional scenario – a brewery blows up as a result of a cyberattack, resulting in chemical pollution that leads to casualties.
“The head of operations of the general staff of the armed forces draws a parallel in his statements between past wars in Georgia or Ukraine with the situation in Transylvania. Thus it is justified if we ask whether the government indeed expects (to have) separatist movements in the middle of Romania?” Korodi asked in parliament.
Brigadier General Marian Botea said earlier that they want to improve the inter-institutional cooperation within the armed forces and also have a duty to be prepared for a hybrid attack, given their current monitoring of Russian propaganda. According to the brigadier general, the reason why they have chosen Kovászna and Hargita Counties for the location of the military exercise is because they have good cooperation with the local institutions there.
A similar military exercise already took place in Kovászna County last week. That time, the Bucharest gendarmerie first occupied the Óriáspince-peak near Maksa/Moacșa with its camouflaged jeeps, tents, 360-degree camera, and Romanian flags and then commanded their grandiose gendarmerie exercise from this “nest”.
Title image: RMDSZ MP Attila Korodi (source: rmdsz.ro)
