Romanian journalist Emilia Șercan threatened after plagiarism exposé

Berlin, January 22, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Romanian authorities to conduct a swift and transparent investigation into the smear campaign, threats of bodily harm, and death threats targeting investigative journalist Emilia Șercan following her article on alleged plagiarism by a government minister. 

Șercan’s January 14 exposé on the Press One news site alleged that Romania’s minister of justice, Radu Marinescu, plagiarized his PhD thesis. Since then, she has faced a sustained campaign of online harassment and threats. She told CPJ that she has received hundreds of online messages — many anonymous — escalating from insults and misogynistic abuse to violent language and explicit threats of physical harm, including death threats. Șercan said she believes this is part of a broader campaign in retaliation for her reporting, and that it was triggered by comments from the minister and other Social Democratic Party politicians.

“Romanian authorities must swiftly hold those responsible to account, ensure Emilia Șercan’s safety, and thoroughly examine allegations that public officials were involved in this campaign,” said Attila Mong, CPJ’s Europe representative. “Șercan’s investigations into academic corruption have played a vital public-interest role in Romania, and the sustained harassment targeting her sends a chilling message to journalists exposing the abuse of power. These attacks are deeply troubling and underscore the growing pressure faced by independent media in the country.”

In 2022, Șercan received threatening emails and social media messages, and several intimate photos of her were shared online after she published an article alleging that then-Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă had plagiarized his doctoral dissertation.

CPJ emailed questions to the media offices of Romania’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, which oversees the national police, and the Justice Ministry but did not receive a reply.