Romanian Intelligence Chief Gabriel Vlase Plagiarized Dozens of Pages in PhD Thesis

By Romania Journal Last updated Sep 24, 2024

Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.

An investigation carried out by the journalist Emilia Șercan in PressOne shows today that the doctorate of the head of the SIE, Gabriel Vlase, includes at least 66 pages of plagiarized content, in multiple sequences of pages copied block by block, from the PhD thesis of the former Minister of Defense Sorin Frunzăverde.

Gabriel Vlase, former PSD politician, copied from a PNL politician, Sorin Frunzăverde, according to PressOne’s disclosure today. Originally from Resita, the liberal leader Frunzăverde died at the age of 59, in 2019.

The longest sequence of plagiarized content is 16 consecutive pages. These are taken from the doctoral thesis supported by Frunzăverde in 2004 at the “Carol I” National Defense University (UNAP), subordinate to the Ministry of National Defense.

The thesis with which Vlase obtained his doctorate was defended in 2010 at the “Mihai Viteazul” National Information Academy of the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI).

Vlase had Constantin Onișor as his doctoral coordinator, at that time the dean of the most important faculty within the SRI Academy, that of Information.

“Study on a modern security strategy for South-Eastern Europe” is the title of the paper with which the SIE director became a doctor. The commission that evaluated and decided to grant him the scientific title was formed by: Luca Iamandi (professor at the Police Academy), Constantin Țenu (professor at the National Defense University) and Gheorghe Toma (professor at the SRI Academy).

Vlase published his doctorate in 2010, i.e. the same year he publicly defended the work, at the RAO Publishing House.

The book, which was also printed in the fall of 2010, has a different title than the thesis: Security in Southeast Europe. News and strategic perspectives.

The foreword of the book published at RAO is signed by Iulian Vlad, the last head of the communist Security, the most oppressive political police structure in the communist bloc except for the one in the USSR before 1989.

Vlase did not deny even once, in the discussion with PressOne, that he plagiarized his doctorate: “Really, with this plagiarism, if the law says so, it says so […]. But where there is a mistake, let it be a mistake. There was no bad intention. I’m telling you honestly.”

Just two days after President Klaus Iohannis appointed Vlase to the head of Romanian espionage, Newsweek Romania wrote about the plagiarized paragraphs in the doctoral thesis of the new SIE director.

DONATE: Support our work

In an ever changing and challenging world, the media is constantly struggling to resist. Romania Journal makes no exception. We’ve been informing you, our readers, for almost 10 years, as extensively as we can, but, as we reject any state funding and private advertising is scarce, we need your help to keep on going.
So, if you enjoy our work, you can contribute to endorse the Romania Journal team. Any amount is welcome, no strings attached. Choose to join with one of the following options:

Donate with PayPal

Donate by Bank Wire

Black Zonure SRL
UniCredit Bank. Swift: BACXROBU
RON: RO84 BACX 0000 0022 3589 1000
EURO: RO57 BACX 0000 0022 3589 1001
USD: RO30 BACX 0000 0022 3589 1002