The Foundation For The Defense Of Citizens Against State Abuses (FACIAS) calls on the authorities to publicly explain why they did not intervene in the case of Teodora Marcu, the 24-week pregnant young woman who was killed in the street on May 31, 2025. Despite clear danger signals and a previously issued protection order, the responsible institutions failed to act. FACIAS believes that this tragedy is the consequence of the negligence of the protection system for victims of domestic violence.
According to press reports, in 2021, Teodora Marcu obtained a protection order against Robert Lupu issued by the Bacău District Court. Also that year, on March 1, she filed a first criminal complaint at the Helegiu Police Station, Bacău County, after the aggressor followed her and her husband with his car, trying to hit their car. The incident culminated in a violent confrontation right in front of the police station, where the man threatened them in front of the officers. Subsequently, in her complaint to the Public Prosecutor's Office at the Bacău District Court, Teodora reported that her ex-partner had broken into her home, stolen her money and possessions, and continued to threaten her. Shortly before the civil marriage, she and her husband were again pursued and Lupu physically assaulted them in a new episode of violence in Dolj County.
In another complaint filed with the Cetate Police, Teodora specifically requested the withdrawal of the weapons legally owned by the assailant, citing fear that he would use them against her. The court denied her request on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence of possession or use of the weapons. On May 31, 2025, Robert Lupu carried out his threats: he shot Teodora, right in front of his three-year-old daughter.
In this context, FACIAS has asked the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police, the county inspectorates of Bacău and Ilfov, the Public Prosecutor's Office of Ilfov and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to publicly present the reasons why they did not act according to their duties, as well as what measures they have taken to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
FACIAS advocates the urgent adoption of concrete measures, including rapid intervention mechanisms, clear risk assessment procedures and the suspension of the right to own weapons for those responsible for domestic violence
FACIAS will closely monitor this case and support all initiatives that can prevent such tragedies from happening again.