The media manipulation campaign continued with a new incursion at Râul Alb, on May 21, 2015. While on the project route, I encountered Călin Dejeu, Dan Păvaloiu (from TVR 2 Cluj), and two other people with video cameras. They were on the communal road, near another property of mine located upstream. I introduced myself and offered to show them the project data, even though, naturally, they should have come openly—not secretly filming to later discredit us in the media. I asked them what they were interested in and offered to answer their questions, but I quickly realized they had no intention of engaging in honest dialogue. They were clearly irritated that we ran into each other face to face, and they turned back on their own. (video 6.1)
I was accompanied by two builders who witnessed the entire exchange. At one point, they told the reporters that their approach was unfair, because the projects did not negatively impact the environment, as was claimed in the press. I did not allow them onto my property, but I didn’t prevent them from continuing on the public road either—as they later insinuated in the broadcast, claiming I “blocked them and didn’t let them proceed.”
The footage aired a year after the filming, exactly when the court was due to rule on a dispute between us and the “activists.”
Obviously, the real purpose of the segment was to pressure the judges, not to inform the public.
Here’s the proof: at the time of broadcast, it was already known that Călin Dejeu’s criminal complaint had been dismissed as unfounded. He had accused us of being part of the “timber mafia,” of illegally cutting forest, and filed a complaint with the Prosecutor’s Office at Hațeg Court.
After investigations, the case was closed on the grounds that the alleged crime did not exist (doc.1).
Despite this, the public television station aired only Dejeu’s accusations, without a single reference to the official decision proving he lied.
On April 25, 2015, România Liberă published an article presenting all perspectives from the parties involved.
Călin Dejeu accused us of blasting hillsides, illegal logging, and modifying the riverbed, claiming we would leave the Carpathians “mute and disfigured.”
In the same article, Dejeu announced he had sent an open letter to the Ministry of Environment, requesting a suspension of our projects at Râul Alb:
“Among the signatories are environmental NGOs such as:
Ecopolis, Agent Green, Eco-Civic Foundation, WWF Romania, Terra Millenium III.”
I was also contacted by România Liberă and told them that Dejeu was knowingly spreading disinformation.
We did not blast any hillsides, nor did we do any illegal logging or conduct any activities harmful to the environment.
I also clarified that we had stopped construction on the two MHCs until inspections were completed. I explained:
“It’s not right. When I started this project, I was encouraged by every institution in the country—and even abroad. Now some are saying it shouldn’t go forward. That’s unacceptable. I put everything I had—my fortune, my assets—into this.”
(article 1)
This article appeared one month before the attack against me, and it’s crucial for understanding the situation before the attempted murder.
The journalists presented all sides:
Dejeu and his activist group,
My arguments,
And those of the Ministry of Environment.
The so-called environmental catastrophe revolved around the stone crayfish, which Dejeu claimed could disappear if MHCs were built.
That “could” was dismissed by expert studies, which confirmed that as long as the project was followed, the species would not be affected.
In a real, fact-based confrontation, NGO-style manipulation doesn’t #resist—as has happened in other cases too.
Remember the hysteria over the longhorn beetle during the construction of the Pitești–Sibiu highway? Or the bat cave near Deva, which caused a months-long halt on the Deva–Lugoj section? Or the panic over bird migration being “disturbed” by certain wind farms?
All of these confirm the hypocrisy of these pseudo-environmentalists.
A few days after the România Liberă article, the “eco” propaganda machine launched more media attacks, presenting only one side—that of the NGOs.
No counterarguments.
Just apocalyptic prophecies, insults, and lies.
Clearly, a balanced, well-documented piece, like the one in România Liberă, disturbed the false news factory of the activists.
They had to reignite collective emotion with a fresh manipulative campaign—and that’s what happened.
On April 27, 2015, Mihai Goțiu published in romaniacurata.ro a piece repeating the classic lies about blasting the river and illegal logging along the “virgin valley” (article 2).
On April 30, 2015, Dacian Munteanu, president of the NGO SENS, published an “APPEAL FOR RÂUL ALB – Open Letter to the University of Bucharest / UPDATE: Response from the University” (article 3).
Then on May 18, 2015, another media attack by Goțiu appeared on romaniacurata.ro quoting Dejeu:
“It’s a critical moment. The valley is guarded, mafia-style, by the company owner and ‘volunteers’ with clubs and dogs.” (article 4)
That lie about mafia-style guarding refers to the April 19, 2015 encounter, when I found Dacian Munteanu filming on my property.
I was returning from a walk with my wife and our dog.
Their version of events is a clear distortion of reality, but when a lie is repeated endlessly, it wins believers—even among reasonable people.
Such articles were designed only to legitimize the raid on May 24, 2015, and they kept appearing for seven years.
Never—not once—did any of the activists initiate a direct dialogue with us to learn about the project or understand that nature can be respected without painting yourself green and declaring yourself an #activist, #volunteer, or #resist-er.
Every one of their field visits had the character of a raid, with the clear purpose of harassment.
Even on the Sunday of the attempted murder, there was nothing left to “document” at Râul Alb—construction was stopped, and we were waiting on a decision from the authorities.
They came clearly prepared for scandal—they wanted blood.
They wanted to show the world they were in charge.
And they succeeded.
But not on their own initiative…