Arrest warrant for Avramopoulos in Belgium in Qatargate affair
Former European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos is the subject of a Belgian arrest warrant in connection with the Qatargate corruption scandal, with the warrant transmitted to Greece to lift his parliamentary immunity.
Arrest warrant for Avramopoulos in Belgium in Qatargate affair
Former European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos is at the centre of an international judicial investigation into the Qatargate corruption scandal, following the issuance of an arrest warrant against him by the Belgian authorities.
The warrant was transmitted to Greece over the weekend and handed to the Public Prosecutor of the Court of Appeal in Athens. Avramopoulos presented himself to the Public Prosecutor on Monday 22 June accompanied by his lawyer and was informed by the prosecutor for more than an hour.
According to reports, the warrant concerns his collaboration with a non-profit organisation fighting corruption, from which he allegedly received approximately €75,000. He claims that these sums were regularly declared in his asset declaration and taxed.
Due to his status as a sitting member of parliament, the execution of the warrant requires the prior lifting of his parliamentary immunity. The request is transmitted to the Court of Cassation, then to the Ministry of Justice and from there to Parliament.
Avramopoulos categorically rejects any connection with the affair, describing the accusations as "without foundation and devoid of real evidence". He emphasises that his participation in the Fight Impunity organisation was "absolutely legal, declared and taxed" and states that he will not make use of his parliamentary immunity, choosing to pursue the path of justice.
Source: ΕΡΤ Νέα
Source: ERT