Belgian arrest warrant issued against Dimitris Avramopoulos in Qatargate affair
Belgian justice has issued an arrest warrant against former European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos as part of the investigation into the Qatargate corruption scandal.
Belgian arrest warrant issued against Dimitris Avramopoulos in Qatargate affair
Belgian justice has issued an arrest warrant against former European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos as part of the investigation into the Qatargate corruption scandal. The warrant was transmitted to Greek justice over the weekend, specifically to the Athens appeals court prosecutor's office.
According to reports, Mr Avramopoulos presented himself at the appeals court prosecutor's office on Monday 22 June with his lawyer, in order to be informed of developments in his case. He met with the prosecutor of the Athens appeals court prosecutor's office for more than an hour.
The warrant concerns an alleged involvement of Mr Avramopoulos in Qatargate, notably collaboration with a non-profit anti-corruption organisation with which he is said to have worked from 2019. He has stated that he received approximately 75,000 euros from this collaboration, a sum he claims to have declared regularly in his asset declaration and on which he has been taxed.
It is noted that the arrest warrant has not been executed, as Mr Avramopoulos is a serving member of parliament and his parliamentary immunity would need to be lifted beforehand. The request is transmitted to the Greek Council of State, which then refers it to the Ministry of Justice, and subsequently to Parliament with a request for immunity to be lifted.
Should immunity be lifted, the warrant returns to the Athens appeals court prosecutor's office. Mr Avramopoulos is consulted on his agreement to be surrendered to Belgian authorities. If he consents, the president of the Athens appeals court prosecutor's office takes the decision; otherwise, the competent judicial council rules.
Mr Avramopoulos categorically rejects any involvement, emphasising that "this matter has never concerned me". He asserts that attempts to implicate him are without foundation and lacking in factual basis. He states that he will himself refer the matter to justice by requesting a full investigation, and has indicated that he will not make use of his parliamentary immunity.
Source: ertnews.gr
Source: ERT