Alexandru Zidaru, the influencer known as Makaveli, was detained for 24 hours on Thursday, June 11, 2026, as part of a tax evasion investigation led by the Bucharest Tribunal Prosecutor's Office. Police took him to the Economic Crime Investigation Directorate for questioning.

During interrogation, Zidaru felt unwell. He was transported to a hospital, according to investigators. The probe targets him and three associates on charges of tax evasion and complicity in concealing income from social media content.

Prosecutors allege the group failed to declare 3,324,147 lei in income, causing a loss of 574,000 lei to the state budget. The investigation focuses on what authorities describe as continuous tax evasion activity.

Zidaru has been a visible figure in Romanian social media and politics. He served as an advisor to Diana Șoșoacă and ran for Bucharest mayor in the last election cycle before withdrawing to support Anca Alexandrescu. On TikTok, he promoted Călin Georgescu during the presidential campaign. His online presence has made him a controversial figure in Romanian digital spaces, attracting both supporters and critics who debate his influence on political discourse.

The detention comes as Romanian tax authorities increase enforcement against undeclared income from online content creation. In 2025, the National Agency for Fiscal Administration announced it would prioritize audits of influencers and digital creators, citing widespread non-compliance.

No involvement from the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism. The case remains under the jurisdiction of economic crime investigators. Prosecutors have not disclosed whether they will request an extension of Zidaru's detention beyond the initial 24-hour period.

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Zidaru's lawyer has not responded to requests for comment. His associates, whose names have not been released, were also questioned but not detained.

The investigation is ongoing. Prosecutors said they are reviewing financial records and digital platform data to determine the full scope of the alleged evasion. Tax authorities have not indicated whether other influencers are under similar scrutiny, though enforcement actions against digital creators have increased across Europe.

Romanian law allows prosecutors to detain suspects for up to 24 hours without a court order. Extensions require judicial approval. The maximum penalty for aggravated tax evasion in Romania is 12 years in prison.

Zidaru's political affiliations have drawn attention to the case. Șoșoacă, leader of the S.O.S. Romania party, has not commented publicly on his detention. Alexandrescu, who lost the mayoral race, declined to comment when contacted by reporters.

The case highlights a broader enforcement trend. In March 2026, the finance ministry reported that audits of social media influencers had recovered 12 million lei in unpaid taxes. Officials said the figure represented only a fraction of estimated losses from unreported digital income.

Prosecutors have not set a timeline for completing the investigation. The next procedural step will be determined after medical evaluations and further questioning of the suspects.