Former President Nicos Anastasiades responded to the Independent Authority Against Corruption’s findings that went public today, denying the alleged offences.
The former president, who led the country from 2013 to 2023, called for an immediate investigation by the competent authorities, requesting that the Attorney-general and his deputy – both former cabinet members of the Anastasiades government and appointed by him in their current roles – recuse themselves from overseeing the process.
The anti-corruption authority released an announcement (in Greek) on their findings after a two-and-a-half-year investigation into the allegations of corruption included in the ‘Mafia State’ book by investigative journalist Makarios Drousiotis, centred on the former president. The Authority said it will not release its actual findings, totalling nearly 3,000 pages, given that the contents may be used as evidence in any future trials.
The inquiry identified potential corruption offences reaching the judiciary, the Legal Services, government ministries, the banking sector, legal sector, and the office of the former president.
The claims indicate 15 persons and entities including Anastasiades, the eponymous law office, another law office, three lawyers, a judge, an oligarch, a former MP, a banker, a former minister, a communications expert, a senior police officer and several former senior state officials in potential corruption offences.
Anastasiades faces the most extensive list of alleged offences – seven counts across three categories: three instances of trading in influence, one felony count of abuse of power, and three further misdemeanour counts of abuse of power or attempted commission of a criminal offence.
Anastasiades denies alleged offences
In a written statement on Tuesday, Anastasiades made the following conclusions after having studied the report:
“The allegations of enrichment, corruption and a host of other defamatory references by Mr Makarios Drousiotis have collapsed as unfounded.”
He further stated: “Most of the accusations attributed by the investigating officers and the Anti-Corruption Authority are not only absent from the allegations under investigation as recorded in Mr Drousiotis’ book, but were never put to me during the course of the investigative process, so that I might have been given the opportunity to present substantiated responses.”
The former president added that he would provide “evidence-based answers” at a press conference in the coming days on Drousiotis’ allegations and “the unsubstantiated nature of the accusations”.
In a final, fourth point, Anastasiades says: “I state that I categorically deny the alleged offences and request their immediate investigation by the competent authorities. Furthermore, in order to dispel any well-intentioned or malicious suspicion, I request the recusal of the Attorney-General and the Deputy Attorney-General from overseeing the investigations, so that it may be demonstrated, with evidence, that the allegations attributed to me are unfounded.”
Government: zero tolerance to corruption
Government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said the Authority’s findings were “fully respected”, stressing that all prescribed legal procedures must now be set in motion.
Speaking to CNA, Letymbiotis said the government maintains zero tolerance towards corruption.
“From this point onwards, there are established legal procedures, based on the Constitution and the relevant legislative framework, which must be initiated by the competent bodies, so that all serious issues raised in the report are thoroughly investigated,” he said.
“If, within the framework of the prescribed procedures, a need arises for action by the executive branch, this will be carried out with full respect for the Constitution, the competencies of each institution and the provisions of the law,” he said.
Reiterating the government’s “zero” tolerance for corruption, Letymbiotis added that “our commitment to transparency, accountability, and strengthening public trust in institutions remains unwavering”.
AG: nothing to announce yet
Meanwhile, Attorney-General Giorgos Savvides said: “The Legal Service has yet to receive the report of the Independent Authority Against Corruption Authority on the ‘Mafia State’. Once it is received, it will be examined and an announcement will follow in the coming days. At this stage, there is nothing further to announce.”
