Greece’s Supreme Court orders an investigation into the “wiring scandal” after the bombshell claimed Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had “used state surveillance to spy on dozens of political rivals, journalists and businessmen”.
- The Supreme Court will investigate bomb requests published in Documento
- The report claimed that more than 30 politicians were the target of state surveillance
- Supervision of paper claims was requested by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis
- The weekly’s editor, Kostas Vaxevanis, is due to testify next week
- The Greek government has flatly denied the use of illegal surveillance software
The Supreme Court in Greece has ordered an investigation into bombastic allegations that dozens of politicians, journalists and businessmen in the country have been the target of state surveillance at the request of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
A judicial source confirmed that the report by the weekly Documento will be the subject of an investigation in which the newspaper’s editor, Kostas Vaxevanis, will testify next week.
The report released on Saturday claimed that the list of targets included former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, current members of the Cabinet and shipping magnate Vangelis Marinakis, owner of Olympiakos and Nottingham Forest football clubs.
Illegal software called Predator was used in collaboration with technology from Greece’s state intelligence agency EYP, the newspaper added.
The report, released on Saturday, claims Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (pictured) “used state intelligence to spy on dozens of people, including potential political rivals, journalists and businessmen.”
Documento reported that the list of targets included former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras (pictured).
Influential members of the conservative New Democracy party – potential rivals in any future leadership challenge of Mr Mitsotakis – are among the targets, including 30 politicians, the newspaper article claimed.
The government has downplayed the report, saying there was a lack of evidence, but has called for an investigation. On Friday, a European Parliament committee investigating wiretapping in Greece and other EU countries called for a further investigation into the case.
Giannis Oikonomou, a Greek government spokesman, claims that “the evidence is lacking” but has joined calls for an investigation into the newspaper’s claims.
He accused the report of trying to “damage” the government and undermine stability.
The scandal was uncovered in July when Nikos Androulakis, MEP and leader of the Greek Socialist Party, filed a complaint against alleged attempts to tap his mobile phone with Predator spyware.
Within days, it emerged that he was under separate surveillance by Greek intelligence before becoming leader of Pasok, the country’s third-largest party.
Two Greek journalists and another senior opposition politician also claim to have been monitored.
Shipowner Vangelis Marinakis, owner of Olympiakos and Nottingham Forest football clubs, was also targeted
The affair exploded in July when Nikos Androulakis (pictured) – an MEP and leader of the Greek Socialist Party – filed a complaint against alleged attempts to tap his mobile phone with Predator spyware
As a result, the Greek intelligence chief, a close associate and the prime minister’s nephew resigned from his post.
The Greek government has denied using illegal surveillance software but admitted that Androulakis was being monitored by state surveillance without disclosing the reason.
“Surveillance software exists in Greece as in the rest of Europe, but no (Greek) public authority has bought or used it,” Oikonomou said on Saturday.
The prime minister has previously promised to outlaw the use of illegal listening devices, but his critics have noted that one of his first acts in winning the 2019 election was to attach the national intelligence service to his personal office.