It was claimed that many important people from the political, media and business world, including former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, were tapped with spyware in Greece.
Documento newspaper reported that the spyware program called “Predator” was used by the Greek Intelligence Agency (EYP) during the wiretaps made with the knowledge of Greek Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis.
The news, which is based on unnamed sources, listed the names of 32 people from politics, media and business world in the “list of listeners”.
Former Prime Minister Samaras, former Citizen Protection Ministers Mihalis Hrisohoidis and Olga Yerovasili, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, Development and Investment Minister Andonis Yeorgiadis, former Health Minister Vasilis Kikilias, Kathimerini Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Alexis Papahelas, Deputy Defense Minister Nikos Hardalias, Finance Minister Christos Staikuras, Labor Minister Kostis Hacidakis, local administrators and opposition figures were also present.
In the news, it was claimed that Miçotakis’ close colleagues as well as potential rivals within the party were on the list, and that some people were tapped on the phones of their spouses and close circles.
The newspaper claimed that Miçotakis was fully responsible for the scandal.
LISTENING SCANDAL IN GREECE
The International Press Institute (IPI) reported in April that Greek journalist Thanasis Kukakis’ cell phone was tracked with spyware called “Predator” for 10 weeks in 2021.
Nikos Andrulakis, leader of the opposition party Movement for Change (KINAL) and Member of the European Parliament (EP) and Christos Spirtzis, MP from the main opposition party Radical Left Alliance (SYRIZA), also filed a criminal complaint on the grounds that there was an attempt to install the spyware program “Predator” on their phones.
Prime Ministry Secretary General Grigoris Dimitriadis, who is alleged to have commercial relations with EYP President Panagiotis Kontoleon and “Predator” and who is also Mitsotakis’ nephew, resigned from his duties due to the scandal. (AA)