«What is being done against me is not about me, it is about democracy,» the journalist and editor of Documento said, Costas Vaxevanis coming out of the Supreme Court following his prosecution for the Novartis scandal.
«It is unprecedented that journalists are being prosecuted for publishing,» he said, adding:
«To end this story, it would be good to do what I wrote on Sunday, to go to prison voluntarily so that Mr Mitsotakis can rest, if he wants torture, if he wants to put cameras...» he added, adding a condition:
«On one condition that he give an interview to me and not to the protected media...».
And he ended with a round of applause:
«What is happening today is a lesson in democracy. What is being done against me is not about me, it is about democracy.».
The full statement by Costas Vaxevanis:
«What is happening is unprecedented for a European country, that is, journalists are being prosecuted for publications. That is, to hold a trial of the intentions of the source who gave the publication or anything related to it. Not to say too much, because people have understood, I think that in order to get this story over with and not to humiliate the Greek justice system and democracy, it would be good to do what I wrote on Sunday, that is, to go to prison voluntarily so that Mr Mitsotakis can rest easy.
So I accept to go to prison voluntarily, so that the Greek justice system is not humiliated, so that the country is not humiliated worldwide, so that Mr Mitsotakis can rest easy, and if he wants to torture me in prison I will endure it, if he wants to put cameras on it, he can make it a reality show sponsored by Novartis or Siemens if he prefers to do so. If he wants to put his friend Nikos Georgiades to watch and enjoy himself, in all of it. But on one condition, that he agrees to do an interview, with me and not with the protected media.
What is happening today is a lesson in democracy at a time when we believe that everything is quiet and they can and want to impose what they think and what they impose every day. What is happening to me is not about me. What is being done against me is not about me. But what is being done here with your presence and the support of the people is not about me, it is about democracy.
Thank you all, both those who were here and those who were at home sending messages of solidarity and to colleagues and organisations from all over the world who are making announcements because they understand that this is a delusional persecution, as Reporters Without Borders, the international section, called it. Thank you all very much. The country is ours, children, it is neither of the interconnectedness nor of the justice system that serves orders.»
«Because I see political figures, colleagues, personalities, ordinary people and since yesterday there is an attempt to incriminate people because parties support Vaxevani and that it is interference in justice.
Listen, the ECHR jurisprudence provides that every citizen has the right to judge both justice and decisions and persons. Greece has even been condemned after an appeal by a Greek lawyer for this. It is therefore a constitutional right and obligation of every person to speak his mind and to judge. It is not interference with justice. It is interference in justice for Mr Mitsotakis to send his MPs to testify in court on behalf of his adviser and friend of the paedophile, Nikos Georgiadis. This is interference.»
