January 2019: The Unyielding Fight Against Corruption and Oppression

January 2019 in Rasova was marked by an escalation of my ongoing struggle against the corruption and intimidation tactics employed by local authorities. The mayor, Maria Mitu, intensified her efforts to isolate me from the community. It became apparent that she would stop at nothing to maintain her power—even if that meant breaking the law or exploiting the vulnerable. This was not just a battle against corruption; it was a fight for the very soul of Rasova.

One of the most disheartening aspects of this month was witnessing the extent to which the mayor would go to suppress any opposition. People I had considered friends were pressured to distance themselves from me. Financial blackmail, threats regarding construction permits, and even the welfare of their children were used as leverage against them. It was heartbreaking to see friendships crumble under this pressure, but it also reinforced my commitment to exposing the mayor’s abuse of power.

I also received information that similar tactics were being used against others in the village. The goal was clear: to break any sense of solidarity that could threaten Maria Mitu’s position as mayor. But despite these efforts, there were growing signs that people were starting to question her authority. The discrepancies in how public funds were managed became too glaring to ignore—such as the withholding of benefits meant for children and the suspicious lack of transparency regarding community budgets. These injustices drove me to continue documenting every infraction, knowing that the truth could not be suppressed forever.

In the midst of all this, I called on the people of Rasova to take action—to stand up against those who had betrayed them for personal gain. I urged everyone to demand accountability, to ensure that our resources benefited all, not just a select few. The fight was not just about me; it was about creating a future where no one would be afraid to speak out. My encounters with the sub-prefect and other authorities during this month were a small step towards that goal, and I remained determined to keep pushing, no matter the personal cost.

Reflecting on January 2019, it was a month of both setbacks and breakthroughs. The attempts to intimidate and isolate me only served to highlight the fear that corrupt officials had of being exposed. The avalanche had started, and no amount of threats could stop it. I knew that the road ahead would be challenging, but I was confident that the people of Rasova were beginning to awaken. The more they questioned, the closer we got to real change.

I continued to post updates and share my findings online, exposing not only the local misdeeds but also connecting the fight in Rasova to the broader struggle for justice across Romania. The oppressive tactics used against me were just a symptom of a much larger issue that spanned the country. I was determined to keep shining a light on these injustices, and I encouraged everyone to join me—to be part of a movement that could bring about the change we desperately needed.

The turning point would come when enough people realized that the power lay in their hands, not in the hands of corrupt leaders. And so, I kept documenting, kept pushing, and kept believing that the day of reckoning for those who exploited our community would eventually come.