Athens Bar Association Demands Prosecutor's Resignation Over Wiretapping Case

The Athens Bar Association, a staunch defender of the rule of law and citizens' rights, expresses its profound dismay and condemnation regarding the Prosecutor of the Supreme Court's decision not to reopen the wiretapping case. This action, perceived as a "institutional deviation," strikes at the heart of democratic principles and the protection of privacy, which is enshrined in Article 19 of the Constitution. The association has consistently highlighted the critical importance of this case since 2022, emphasizing that the safeguarding of communication privacy is a prerequisite for all constitutionally guaranteed rights.

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The refusal of the highest judicial official to retrieve the case file from the archive, despite the decision of the Athens Court of First Instance for further investigation, constitutes an institutional deviation.

The recent decision by the Monomeles Pliemmeleiodikeio of Athens to forward the case file for further investigation, citing sufficient evidence of serious offenses such as espionage, was a significant judicial development. This followed an earlier archiving of the case by the Prosecutor's Office of the Supreme Court. The association's administrative council, in an extraordinary session on April 29, 2026, overwhelmingly decided to demand Tzavellas' resignation due to his refusal to act on the court's findings and the newly presented evidence. This stance underscores the association's commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability within the justice system.

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The safeguarding of communication privacy is absolutely protected by Article 19 of the Constitution and is a prerequisite for the exercise of all constitutionally guaranteed rights of citizens.

This situation is particularly concerning in Greece, where the revelations of wiretapping, involving high-ranking officials, generals, judges, ministers, lawmakers, journalists, and lawyers, have already dealt a severe blow to the rule of law. The use of dubious legal means for wiretapping, citing "national security," and the deployment of the Predator spyware, have eroded public trust. The Prosecutor's latest action, in the eyes of the Athens Bar Association, exacerbates this erosion by appearing to shield individuals from accountability rather than pursuing justice. The association's planned press conference on Monday aims to shed further light on these developments and rally public support for a thorough investigation, emphasizing that the integrity of Greek democracy is at stake.

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The revelation of the tapping of telephone communications of top state officials, generals, judges, ministers, members of parliament, journalists, lawyers, and others, both through dubious legality of lifting telephone secrecy for 'national security reasons' and through the Predator spyware, constitutes an indelible blow to the guarantees of the rule of law, which must be fully clarified and investigated.