Romanian Criminal Expertise Institute Sent Video Analysis Result To President

On Monday, Traian Basescu asked the National Criminal Expertise Institute for a professional opinion on whether the video of him allegedly striking a child at a political rally in 2004 had been fabricated.

The Institute said the result may only be made public by the authority which requested it.

Romanian daily "Gardianul" recently posted online a video, filmed in 2004 during the electoral campaign for the presidential elections, showing Basescu at a rally. Later in the clip, Basescu seems to strike a child across the face with the back of his fist, for undistinguishable reasons.

Basescu denied the allegations, saying the clip was altered and stressing he has never, in his entire life, struck a child.

Sever Voinescu, spokesperson for the president, said last week that the video is sheer fabrication aiming only to "strike at Basescu," who is running for reelection. In a press conference, Voinescu introduced a video editing, special effects and animation specialist, who argued that the footage had been faked.

Basescu announced he will take businessman Dinu Patriciu, who said he saw Basescu hit the child in person, and Best Media SRL, the company which publishes Gardianul, to court, demanding 1 leu (EUR1=RON4.2496) in damages, with hearings scheduled to begin on April 21, 2010.

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