Horațiu Potra declared in an interview, in 2024, that he did “years preparation through forests, through polygons” with some of the mercenaries with whom he fought in Africa. He bought, in 2023, 44 hectares of forest in a protected area, 25 kilometers from Cluj-Napoca.
Horațiu Potra, at training in the polygon, in a forest. Photo: personal archive
The most famous mercenary in Romania, Horațiu Potra, bought, in 2023, a 44-hectare forest in Cluj County, it appears from its declaration.
Former member of the foreign legion, with a 30 -year career in participating in the bloody wars in Africa, Horațiu Potra has led, in Congo, over the last two years, over a thousand former military, police, gendarmes, former SPP employees, SRI, SIE and former members of the French Foreign Legion.
Among them, there were people without a military training in the foreign legion or in the force structures in the country. Potra claims that he had “a few colleagues from Mediaș” with whom he made training “for years through forests, in firing polygons”.
“All the boys who come to Congo have a military training. At first, there were some who did not necessarily have a training, a few from Mediaș, my colleagues, were on guard, but with them I made years training through forests, in firing polygons, that is, they had a Preparation, were not taken off the road and taken there, were prepared and mentally”, Stated Potra for the thought in 2024.
From the photos on his Facebook page you can see that he has organized several training camps in different forests.
Is it possible for Potra to have bought the forest in Cluj to train its mercenaries? Has he already did that?
Potra at workouts in the woods. Photo: personal archive
“You pull with AG in that forest and nobody hears you”
Horațiu Potra bought 44 hectares of forest in Cluj County, shows the investigation of journalist Victor Ilie, who analyzed the career of the best known Romanian mercenary, who became known for his approach to Călin Georgescu.
The journalist also analyzed Potra’s wealth statements. “From 2023, since he began to receive public funds from Congo, he has bought countless agricultural plots and forests in Romania. Dozens of hectares ” – is shown in the cited investigation.
One of Potra’s transactions involved the purchase of 44 hectares of forest in Cluj County.
“The contractors I interviewed claim that one of the forests could be used for paramilitary workouts, given the isolated positioning. “You pull with Ag in this forest of his and no one hears you”, especially since in the middle of the forest there is a perimeter where paramilitary training camps can take place, like Potra organizes. However, I did not find any contractor who had gone through such a workout before leaving”Writes Victor Ilie.
The investigation also shows that several former interviewed military tells that some of Potra’s people needed special workouts to be prepared to go to a conflict area.
The newspaper Făclia tried to find out in which area of Cluj County is the forest owned by Horațiu Potra. From the verified documents it appears that all 9 forest lands that they have passed in the declaration of wealth have an area of 44 hectares (440,000 square meters) and are only 25 kilometers from Cluj-Napoca.
For the 44 hectares of forest, Potra has to pay, annually, to the Capușu Mare City Hall as a tax amount of 1,150 lei.
“Potra benefits from this discount because Căpușu Mare is declared a disadvantaged common, which attracts a 50 percent reduction of taxes. However, Georgescu’s former bodyguard did not pay the forest tax for 2024 and for this year ”the quoted source shows.
From the mayor’s information would be a compact area of 44 hectares. This also appears from the Founding Book of the land published in Gazeta de Cluj.
The CF that presents the delimitation of Potra’s forest in Cluj. Photo: Gazeta de Cluj
Forest in the protected area
The scenario of using the forest to train the mercenaries seems to be plausible, in the context in which the mayor of Căpușu Mare commune, where the forest is located, Gheorghe Iancu told “Adevărul” that the forest is in a protected area, so there are great restrictions to a exploit the wood and build.
Iancu also claimed that the forest is a protected surface, so there are several restrictions, such as the prohibition to build.
In the Romanian forests that are in protected areas, there are several restrictions meant to protect biodiversity, natural landscape and natural resources. These restrictions vary depending on the status of protection of the respective area (for example, natural park, nature reserve, Natura 2000 site, etc.), but generally include the following:
Prohibition of shaping shafts: in many protected areas, shaft cutting is restricted or completely forbidden, unless it is necessary for sustainable forest management or for the prevention of natural dangers, such as fires or landslides.
Restriction or prohibition of hunting: In most protected areas, hunting is regulated or forbidden, to protect the species of wild animals. In some protected areas, the management of animal populations can only be allowed by ecological and sustainable methods.
Strict access rules: Access to certain parts of forests or protected area can be restricted to protect sensitive ecosystems or to prevent activities that could harm natural habitats.
Rules for economic activities: economic activities, such as the exploitation of natural resources (wood, medicinal plants, etc.), are severely regulated. In some protected areas, an approved management plan that includes ecological and sustainable practices is required.
Prohibition of pollution: waste, water and soil contamination are strictly regulated to prevent the degradation of the natural environment.
Monitoring and research: Biodiversity research and monitoring activities are allowed, but may require special permits and must be done in a way that does not affect the balance of the ecosystem.
Control of recreational activities: Often, recreational activities (hiking, camping, adventure sports) are regulated to prevent habitats’ degradation and to protect localistic and local floristics.
Potra is a mercenary tried in the Wars of Africa. Photo: personal archive
Did not ask for authorization for any activity in the forest
Mayor Gheorghe Iancu said, however, that he did not see and heard from the locals to be any activity in the respective forest. “Not. Not even it came to declare its property. Someone else has taken care of it ”he said.
The mayor claimed that he did not know that Potra has asked for any authorization to carry out different activities in the respective forest, but for this he should have been to the Cluj County Council.
“Adevărul” learned from the mentioned institution that there is no request for authorization to carry out constructions, arrangements or for any other activity submitted by Potra at the Cluj County Council.
Potra has trained mercenary years in forests. Photo: personal archive
A possible training camp for mercenari?
To what extent could Potra Horațiu use the forest in Cluj to train mercenari?
“Adevărul” has contacted a specialist in the regime of weapons and ammunition, who claimed that for any activity that involves the use of weapons, it is necessary to authorize several authorized institutions, including from the police. “You cannot start shooting with the weapon in the woods even training, if the place you do has no polygon authorization.”he said.
For the establishment of a polygon you must go through a series of draconian bureaucratic processes, including environmental notice and opinion from the public health authorities. The area in which the TIR activity is carried out must be properly delimited and clearly marked, with protective systems to prevent the injury of people or animals in the polygon area.
Then, the polygon must be equipped with installations to provide the protection of the participants, such as: paravane, protective walls, accident prevention systems.
Given that it is a protected area, Potra had to go to the Cluj County Council for the aforementioned arrangements, and according to the Potra institution did not make any requests regarding arrangements or carrying out activities in the respective forest.
To the extent that the forest would have used for this purpose, without the mentioned authorizations, Potra is liable to a criminal case for non -observance of the weapons and ammunition regime.
If he wants to use the forest in the future to train their mercenaries, which is possible given that too many activities cannot be authorized there, being a protected area, he will have to obtain the authorizations and notices established by law.
“Truth” called Horațiu Potra to obtain a point of view, but he did not respond to our requests until the article published.
