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Wiretapping: Piraeus Bar Association Intervenes for Full Investigation

Wiretapping: Piraeus Bar Association Intervenes for Full Investigation

From Ta Nea · (7m ago) Greek Critical tone

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The Piraeus Bar Association has intervened in the wiretapping case, demanding a full judicial investigation and considering intervention before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
  • The association criticizes the Supreme Court Prosecutor's decision to not reopen the wiretapping case, citing concerns about national security, democratic function, and fundamental rights.
  • They argue the prosecutor's involvement was improper due to his prior testimony in a parliamentary committee regarding the same case.

The Piraeus Bar Association has taken a significant stand in the ongoing wiretapping scandal, asserting the inviolable principle of the rule of law. In a move that underscores the gravity of the situation, the association announced its intention to collaborate with other Bar Associations to ensure the matter is fully investigated judicially. This includes exploring the possibility of bringing the case before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), signaling a potential international dimension to the scandal.

Η προάσπιση του Κράτους Δικαίου αποτελεί αδιαπραγμάτευτο πρόταγμα για το δικηγορικό σώμα και ο Δικηγορικός Σύλλογος Πειραιά, σε συνεργασία με τους άλλους Δικηγορικούς Συλλόγους, θα αγωνιστεί για τη δημόσια ανάδειξη της υπόθεσης και την πλήρη δικαστική διερεύνησή της, εξετάζοντας και τη δυνατότητα παρέμβασης ενώπιον του ΕΔΔΑ.

— Piraeus Bar AssociationStating their commitment to the rule of law and the pursuit of a full judicial investigation, including potential ECHR intervention.

The association has strongly condemned the Supreme Court Prosecutor's decision to dismiss the wiretapping case without further investigation. This decision, made despite a recent court ruling acknowledging sufficient evidence of serious offenses, has raised serious questions about judicial independence and public trust. The Piraeus Bar Association views this as a direct challenge to the rule of law and a cause for citizen suspicion.

Η υπόθεση των τηλεφωνικών υποκλοπών έχει σπουδαία σημασία για το Κράτος Δικαίου, καθώς άπτεται θεμάτων που αφορούν στην εθνική ασφάλεια, τη δημοκρατική λειτουργία και την προστασία θεμελιωδών ατομικών και κοινωνικών δικαιωμάτων και ελευθεριών.

— Piraeus Bar AssociationExplaining the significance of the wiretapping case for the rule of law, national security, and democratic freedoms.

Further compounding concerns is the Piraeus Bar Association's assertion that the Supreme Court Prosecutor should have recused himself from the case. Citing articles of the Code of Criminal Procedure, they argue that his prior testimony as a witness before a parliamentary committee and his role as a supervising prosecutor for the National Intelligence Service (EYP) during the relevant period created a conflict of interest. This perceived impropriety in the handling of the case by the highest judicial authority is seen as a severe blow to the integrity of the justice system.

Η από 27.4.2026 Πράξη του Εισαγγελέα του Αρείου Πάγου με την οποία δεν ανασύρεται από το αρχείο η υπόθεση των τηλεφωνικών υποκλοπών και δεν διατάσσεται καμία περαιτέρω έρευνα, παρά τις παραδοχές της πρόσφατης απόφασης του Μονομελούς Πλημμελειοδικείου Αθηνών και την εκ νέου διαβίβαση της υπόθεσης στις εισαγγελικές αρχές λόγω διαπίστωσης από αυτό επαρκών ενδείξεων τέλεσης σοβαρών αξιόποινων πράξεων, δημιουργεί εύλογα ερωτηματικά, οδηγεί σε καχυποψία και έλλειψη εμπιστοσύνης των πολιτών ως προς την ανεξαρτησία της Δικαιοσύνης και δεν συνάδει με την αρχή του Κράτους Δικαίου.

— Piraeus Bar AssociationCriticizing the Supreme Court Prosecutor's decision to close the wiretapping case, citing it as a cause for suspicion and a contradiction to the rule of law.

From a Greek perspective, this case is not merely about illegal surveillance; it strikes at the heart of national security, democratic functioning, and the protection of fundamental individual and civil liberties. The Piraeus Bar Association's proactive stance reflects a deep-seated concern within the legal community and the broader public about potential abuses of power and the erosion of democratic safeguards. The handling of this case by the Greek judiciary is being closely watched, with many hoping for a thorough and transparent investigation that upholds the principles of justice and accountability, a stark contrast to how such matters might be perceived or handled in Western media, which may focus more on the technical aspects rather than the profound implications for the rule of law within Greece.

Ο Δικηγορικός Σύλλογος Πειραιά καταδικάζει έντονα το γεγονός ότι ο Εισαγγελέας του Αρείου Πάγου επιλήφθηκε ο ίδιος της υπόθεσης και προχώρησε στην έκδοση της Πράξης παρότι συνέτρεχαν λόγοι αποκλεισμού ή και εξαίρεσής του κατ’ άρθρον 14 και 15 ΚΠΔ, καθώς είχε εξεταστεί ως μάρτυρας για την ίδια υπόθεση στην Επιτροπή Θεσμών και Διαφάνειας της Βουλής και είχε προσωπική εμπλοκή σε αυτήν έχοντας διατελέσει εποπτεύων Εισαγγελέας της ΕΥΠ κατά το κρίσιμο διάστημα.

— Piraeus Bar AssociationCondemning the Supreme Court Prosecutor's handling of the case due to potential conflicts of interest, including his prior testimony and role with the intelligence service.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.