Wiretapping: Dimitriadis denied everything before the Institutions Committee

Grigoris Dimitriadis, former Secretary-General of the Prime Minister’s Office, denied all allegations regarding wiretapping and the use of the Predator software during his testimony before the Parliament’s Committee on Institutions and Transparency, which has now concluded. The opposition, however, speaks of the imposition of a «code of silence» , referring to the government’s maneuvers to ensure that the committee’s proceedings remain confidential and that businesspeople associated with the Predator software are not compelled to appear.

The prime minister’s former secretary, who had resigned, faced persistent questioning from opposition lawmakers. He maintained, however, that he had resigned of his own accord from his position as secretary and liaison to the National Intelligence Service. He claimed that he had no knowledge of the «legitimate»—as he described it—connection to PASOK President Nikos Androulakis, concluding that the prime minister was also unaware of it. He also categorically asserted that no public agency possesses or uses the Predator software.

He mentioned his long-standing acquaintance with Yiannis Lavranos, but said he does not know either Felix Bizio or Tal Dillian, whom he has never met. In fact, regarding the latter, he denied any knowledge of contacts with government officials in 2021. Grigoris Dimitriadis’s refusal to comment on the possibility that Labor Minister Kostis Hatzidakis was under surveillance a matter on which he said he had no comment. He also stated that he has known the former head of the EYP, Panagiotis Kontoleontas, for 10 years.

Grigoris Dimitriadis also had a heated exchange with Pavlos Polakis. The SYRIZA lawmaker referred to the EYP’s procurement service (KETYAK), prompting G. Dimitriadis to reply, «I don’t know anyone from KETYAK.».

P. Polakis then reportedly stated: «Based on the 2021 Government Gazette, you were responsible for approving KETYAK’s operating regulations. When I was in charge of EOPYY and approved its benefits regulations, I knew exactly how things worked at EOPYY. Don’t you know anything or anyone at KETYAK? And at the same time that you don’t know anyone there and have never even been there, how can you be so categorical that they never used Predator there?”.

Reactions from SYRIZA and PASOK

In a statement, George Katrougalos, a member of Parliament and member of the committee, expressed the official opposition’s belief that yet another attempt had been made to cover up the matter.

As he said, «New Democracy, which claims there is a conspiracy and a toxic atmosphere created by the opposition, today followed exactly the opposite tactic with these leaks, choosing to maintain a climate of silence and prevent the scandal and the prime minister’s responsibilities from coming to light.» He noted, however, that «the very fact that the private citizens who were summoned were linked to the EYP is the best admission that the EYP and Predator were operating from a shared surveillance center.”.

»The answers provided did not address the real questions and revelations.« He stated that »we will insist that the three businessmen appear before the committee,« urging the government »not to ridicule the parliamentary process and to accept that they respond through their embassies.”.

«If the government links the Predator to the EYP, we have no further need for witnesses,» commented PASOK MP Haris Kastanidis immediately after the session. He also pointed out that government representatives «are determined to enforce secrecy and non-violent detention.”.

I explain to them in 200,000 different ways that they are wrong. Article 146 of the Rules of Procedure refers to the proportional application of the Investigative Committee’s recommendations. I tell them that, since you claim the Investigative Committee has the authority to forcibly promote someone, then the Rules of Procedure wouldn’t mention proportional application. They agreed to make fools of themselves.».

New Democracy

Leaks from New Democracy parliamentary sources are focusing on the testimony of Grigoris Dimitriadis.

They report that the former secretary of M. Maximos «made it clear that he never conducted business or had business meetings with Messrs. Lavrano, Bizio, and that he did not know Mr. Dillian. Furthermore, he emphasized that he never visited KETYAK, is not familiar with any group associated with it, nor with any individuals there, and that his collaboration was with the director of the EYP and Kontoleontas, and very little, if at all, with other individuals.» They also report that «he clarified that he has never dealt with malicious software and that, under the New Democracy government, there was never any purchase, procurement, or use of such software by government agencies. He also did not confirm any business meetings or appointments in Cyprus with Mr. Lavranos and made it absolutely clear that the Prime Minister knew nothing about Nikos Androulakis’s lawful wiretap.».

They also add that «when asked about the extent of his day-to-day involvement in EYP matters, he emphasized that it was absolutely necessary given his position, while noting that malware is a global problem thatis also a concern for the European Commission.» They report that G. Dimitriadis «stressed that he is not familiar with and has no connection to the companies Krikel and Intellexa, recalling that the former came to Greece during Mr. Tosca’s tenure as minister, with whom he signed the relevant contract.» Based on this, the same sources assess that «it has become clear—as acknowledged before the Committee and by part of the opposition—that there is absolutely no connection whatsoever between the Greek government and the Predator malware.».

Gerasimos Livitsanos