New names revealed as alleged target of spyware in Greece: Report

Greek newspaper publishes list of many people allegedly spied on in Greece, including former police chief, intelligence service prosecutor

By Derya Gulnaz Ozcan

ATHENS (AA) - New names were revealed as the alleged targets of the government spying that has exploded into a scandal in Greece.

Documento, a weekly Greek newspaper, published a list of many people allegedly spied on by Predator spyware, including former Greek police chief Michalis Karamalakis, Greek Intelligence Service Prosecutor Vasiliki Vlachou, Education Minister Niki Kerameus, and government spokesperson Yiannis Ikonomou.

Denying the allegations, Ikonomou said the allegations would be examined by the judiciary.

The relevant delegation of the parliament will meet on Monday to discuss the allegations regarding the wiretapping scandal, according to local media.

- Surveillance scandal

On Aug. 8, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis acknowledged that opposition politician Nikos Androulakis was wiretapped by Greece’s intelligence agency but denied knowledge of the operation.

The scandal first emerged on Aug. 4, when Panagiotis Kontoleon, then-head of the National Intelligence Service (EYP), told a parliamentary committee that the intelligence agency had been spying on financial journalist Thanasis Koukakis.

On Aug. 5, Kontoleon, along with the general secretary of the prime minister’s office, Grigoris Dimitriadis, resigned.

A parliamentary probe was launched after Androulakis complained to top prosecutors about an attempt to hack his cellphone with Predator spyware.

Previously, Documento published a list of 33 people allegedly spied on by the EYP on direct orders by Dimitriadis, including Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, Deputy Defense Minister Nikos Hardalias, Development Minister Adonis Georgiadis, Labor Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, Finance Minister Christos Staikouras, former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, former Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis and former National Security Adviser Alexandros Diakopoulos.

Opposition parties have been blaming Mitsotakis for the scandal and have called for his government to hold snap elections, something he rejects.

The European Commission and European Parliament are closely monitoring developments related to the scandal.

Kaynak: