Bucharest deputy mayor Razvan Murgeanu has admitted that he was forced to sign an agreement with the Communist-era secret police, the Securitate, during his studenthood.

Murgeanu said in an interview for BBC on Sunday that he was under pressure to sign the agreement after he bought foreign currency from one of his foreign colleagues. However, he claims that he never disclosed any information regarding his friend’s activity to the Police.

In receiving his public function, the official issued a declaration denying any collaboration with the Communist secret police.