‘You are forcing me into something unprecedented in Greek and European history. As the leader of the official opposition, to take legal action against the Commander of the EYP,’ Androulakis said.

The PASOK president began his statement by criticising the conspicuous absence of Supreme Court prosecutor Konstantinos Tzavellas.

‘Mr Demiris, you did what your duty requires as Commander of the EYP and are present at the committee, unlike the Supreme Court prosecutor,’ he initially stated.

‘Mr Tzavellas, who himself signed the surveillance orders, instead of declaring his abstention from the case of illegal surveillance, preferred to abstain from accountability before the Institutions and Transparency Committee of the Greek Parliament. And those who judge, therefore, are judged,’ he commented.

Addressing the EYP chief, Androulakis said: ‘Your refusal to comply with the unanimous decision of the Plenary of the Council of State 465/2024 makes a painful impression, first of all on me as a target of surveillance.’

He then put a series of questions to Demiris: ‘Why are you not complying with the decision of the Council of State? I call on you to immediately provide the file with the information that accompanied the order to lift the confidentiality of communications, as you are required to do. And be clear about the existence of this file and not about outgoing and incoming calls. After all, the Prime Minister himself stated before me in the 2023 televised debate that there was no national security reason for my surveillance. Therefore, what is the reason for secrecy that you invoke, when your political superior, Mr Mitsotakis, says that there is no reason?’

‘You certainly understand that you are forcing me to take legal measures against everyone responsible, including you yourself? You are forcing me into something unprecedented in Greek and European history. As the leader of the official opposition, to take legal action against the Commander of the EYP,’ he continued.

In detail, Androulakis stated:

‘Mr Demiris,

‘You did what your duty requires as Commander of the EYP and you are present at the committee, unlike the prosecutor of the Supreme Court, who we learn is not attending, citing the separation of powers.

‘Of course, this refusal is completely unjustified for a top state official, who has an obligation not only to protect the independence of judicial judgment but also to contribute to the functioning of parliament and the representatives of the people, in whose name, after all, justice is also administered.

‘Mr Tzavellas, who himself signed the surveillance orders, instead of declaring his abstention from the case of illegal surveillance, preferred to abstain from accountability before the Institutions and Transparency Committee of the Greek Parliament.

‘And those who judge, therefore, are judged.

‘However, Mr Demiris, your refusal to comply with the unanimous decision of the Plenary of the Council of State 465/2024 makes a painful impression, first of all on me as a target of surveillance.

‘There it was held that “when the decision to restrict the confidentiality of communications is granted on the basis of a reasoned and detailed request from the competent national authorities, it must be ensured that the monitored persons can have access not only to the granting of the authorisation, but also to the application of the authority that requested the authorisation, so that they are able to understand the reasons invoked for granting that authorisation”.

‘In my case, however, ADAE only informed me of the order number and not the rest of the information in the case file, which your service refused to provide, and at your own personal risk.

‘So the questions are clear:

‘Why do you not comply with the decision of the Council of State?

‘I urge you to immediately provide the file with the information that accompanied the order lifting the confidentiality of communications, as you are required to do.

‘And be clear about the existence of this file and not hearsay. After all, the Prime Minister himself stated before me in the 2023 televised debate that there was no national security reason for my surveillance.

‘Therefore, what is the reason for secrecy that you invoke, when your political superior, Mr Mitsotakis, says that there is no reason?

‘Mr Demiris,

‘You come from the diplomatic corps and throughout your career you have served the national interest and legality. Why, then, do you not comply with the explicit judgment of the Council of State?

‘Why are you exposing the country internationally? Do you not know the damage this causes to national interests?

‘Do you understand that you are forcing me to take legal action against everyone responsible, including you?

‘You are forcing me into something unprecedented in Greek and European history: as the leader of the official opposition, to take legal action against the Commander of the EYP.

‘Listening to your introductory statement, I have, finally, two points to make:

‘You said that you undertook to create a new EYP and received a situation in difficult circumstances. Explain to us exactly what you mean. What are these difficult circumstances that forced you to create a new EYP?

‘Secondly, you mentioned that in times of great challenges you want to create a framework for protecting the communications of the country’s officials. I want to remind you that after you took office, I had requested that the mobile phones of ministers, members of parliament and all officials be checked to protect them from illegal software. You did nothing. So I see more hypocrisy than concern for protecting national security.’

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