The Russian “Trojan horse” in the Romanian defense. The network of infiltrated businessmen and the official responses of state institutions

The Presidential Administration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the “Truth” requests in the case of Automecanica Mediaș, a company controlled by Russian businessmen, involved in an 857 million euro contract with the Ministry of Defense. CSAT claims to have analyzed the transaction through which Automecanica is trying to take control of Popeci Utilaj Greu, and ANCEX that it registered the company for operations with military products. Neither agency explains, however, how it was possible for a company controlled by Russian citizens with documented ties to Moscow's power circles to obtain these permits.

Otokar Cobra II. PHOTO: X

The problems at Automecanica Mediaș came to light after the Ministry of Defense signed an 857 million euro contract with the Turkish firm Otokar for 1,059 COBRA II armored vehicles. The vehicles were to be produced both in Turkey and in Romania, and for the local component, Otokar formed a consortium with Automecanica SA from Mediaș.

The shareholding structure of Automecanica SA changed in January 2023, one year after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The shares went to Andrei Scobioală and Automecanica SKB Property SRL, a company owned by Serghei Glinka. In November 2023, the two became majority shareholders, each with 48% of the shares.

Glinka is an influential figure in Moscow, former leader of Transmashholding, an entity under US sanctions for supporting the Russian war effort. His business partners are internationally sanctioned oligarchs such as Iskandar Makhmudov and Andrei Bokarev. For his part, the administrator Andrei Scobioală holds Russian citizenship and manages businesses closely related to Glinka's interests.

As CSAT explains

According to the response sent by CSAT to “Adevărul”, the Commission for the Examination of Foreign Direct Investments (CEISD) launched a “detailed research procedure” and requested CSAT's opinion in the case of the transaction by which Automecanica SKB Property SRL acquired 51.4242%, respectively Andrei Scobioală 33% of the share capital of Popeci Utilaj Greu SA. The analysis was carried out “within the legal term of 90 days”, and the result was promptly communicated to CEISD.

“We inform you that the CEISD has launched the detailed investigation procedure and requested the opinion of the CSAT in the case of the transaction by which Automecanica SKB Property SRL, a company owned by Mr. Sergei Glinka and Mr. Andrei Scobioală, acquired 51.4242%, respectively 33% of the share capital of Popeci Utilaj Greu SA, a transaction that was analyzed by the members of the Supreme Council of National Defense, within the legal term of 90 days from the request. The result of this analysis was communicated, by the Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Defense, to the Commission for the examination of foreign direct investments”. relayed CSAT for “The Truth.”

That's it and nothing more. The content of the opinion remains secret, the Presidency invoking the classified nature of CSAT meetings and decisions, protected by Law no. 415/2002 and Law no. 182/2002 regarding classified information.

In other words, the Romanian state has analyzed whether two businessmen with Russian citizenship and documented ties to power circles in Moscow can control a company involved in the Romanian defense industry.

ANCEX passes responsibility to MApN

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also responded to Adevărul's request, clarifying the legal framework of the registration of Automecanica SA with ANCEX, the institution that authorizes operations with military products.

According to the MAE, the company was registered at ANCEX starting on April 10, 2024, and the current registration confirmation, issued on April 8, 2025, expires on April 7, 2026.

“For your information, the company you refer to was registered at ANCEX for carrying out operations with military products from 04/10/2024 to 04/09/2025. The company returned with a new registration application, so the current registration confirmation, issued on 04/08/2025, strictly in accordance with the law, expires on 04/07/2026”, submitted the MFA for “Adevărul”.

The Ministry emphasizes that, in the registration process, it must request the opinion of the Ministry of Defense, and an unfavorable opinion from the MApN is an automatic reason for rejection.

“We emphasize that, according to art. 11 of the Rules, ANCEX requests in writing the Ministry of National Defense to present the opinion regarding the registration of the respective company, and its unfavorable opinion is a reason for rejecting the registration request. In addition, the cases in which the MAE through ANCEX can reject or return without action the registration requests are limitedly provided for in art. 13, respectively 15 of the Methodological Rules”, submitted the MFA at the “Truth” request.

Asked directly whether the verification process included the analysis of the shareholders' links with entities in the Russian Federation or with persons under international sanctions, the MAE does not provide an explicit answer. The Ministry is limited to describing the standard legal procedure and stating that ANCEX's activity complies with embargoes established by the UN, EU, OSCE and NATO member states, without confirming or denying that such verification actually took place in this case.

And SRI returned to the “Truth” request, emphasizing that its activity is an exception to Law 544/2001 on access to information of public interest.

MApN confirmed the registration of the request on January 30, but until now the representatives of the institution have not given us any answer.

“As a result of your request, formulated on the basis of Law no. 544/2001 regarding free access to information of public interest,
we inform you that this was registered at the Directorate of Information and Public Relations of the Ministry of National Defense with no. 61 of 30.01.2026 and will receive an answer within the terms provided by law“, MApN representatives sent.

At the same time, Adevărul requested points of view from NATO, respectively the European Commission.

Last minute solution: Otokar buys Automecanica

On January 28, Otokar and Automecanica SA signed a memorandum of understanding by which the Turkish company would acquire 96.77% of the shares of Automecanica SA.

The purchase is estimated at 85 million euros, and at the signing of the memorandum with Andrei Scobioală and Automecanica SKB Property SRL, 5 million euros have already been paid as an advance.