diff --git a/backend/main.py b/backend/main.py
index 1528851..812fbb3 100644
--- a/backend/main.py
+++ b/backend/main.py
@@ -3,6 +3,19 @@ ROA2WEB Unified Backend - Single FastAPI Application
 Consolidates Reports, Data Entry, and Telegram modules into one process
 """
 
+# =============================================================================
+# UTF-8 ENCODING FIX FOR WINDOWS CONSOLE
+# Must be at the TOP, before any logging or print statements
+# Fixes: 'charmap' codec can't encode character errors with Romanian diacritics
+# =============================================================================
+import sys
+if sys.platform == 'win32':
+    # Force UTF-8 encoding on Windows console
+    # This prevents encoding errors when logging Romanian characters (ă, î, ș, ț)
+    import io
+    sys.stdout = io.TextIOWrapper(sys.stdout.buffer, encoding='utf-8', errors='replace')
+    sys.stderr = io.TextIOWrapper(sys.stderr.buffer, encoding='utf-8', errors='replace')
+
 import asyncio
 import logging
 import os