Romanian President To Sue Businessman Dinu Patriciu, Daily Gardianul Over “Fabricated Video"

Basescu said the clip should have been thoroughly analyzed by experts before going public, arguing the management of Gardianul "was not even curious" to have expert judgment on that after the clip surfaced on the internet and in the media.

He stressed Romanians can no longer be tricked or manipulated with fabricated video footages, twenty years after the anti-communist Revolution of 1989, adding the past few days "have brought to light the dirt behind social democrat leader Mircea Geoana."

In turn, Patriciu said he would sue Basescu over defamatory statements on Monday, arguing the head of state called him "liar" and "a man who fabricates video footages."

Gardianul recently posted online a video, filmed in 2004 during the electoral campaign for the presidential elections, showing Basescu at a rally. Later in the clip, Basescu seems to strike a child across the face with the back of his fist, for undistinguishable reasons.

Basescu denied the allegations, saying the clip was altered and stressing he has never, in his entire life, struck a child.

Furthermore, one eyewitness, brought forth by Basescu's campaign staff, said the event never happened, there was no contact and, thus, the child was never hit.

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