Money-laundering investigation into broadcaster Kalogiros, godfather of Georgiadis
The Financial Crime Prosecution Authority has been investigating the owner of Vergina TV for months. The focus is on unusual financial movements and direct awards.
Vergina TV owner in sights of money-laundering authority
An investigation by the Financial Crime Prosecution Authority against Stergios Kalogiros, owner of Vergina Television and Smile TV in Thessaloniki, has been underway for several months, according to a disclosure by the "Newspaper of Editors" carried by In.gr. Kalogiros is known as the godfather of Adonis Georgiadis and a "Macedonian fighter".
Investigation sources cited by the report indicate that unusual financial movements have been detected in Kalogiros's business activities that raise questions.
Vergina Hybrid Television and its financial movements
Particular reference is made to the company "Vergina Hybrid Television Ltd", which since 2018 has been housed in facilities of the Thessaloniki International Fair with an unknown amount of rent, whilst part of the rent is covered through reciprocal advertising. The company shows an annual turnover of approximately €700,000, and the television station had received €20,000 from the so-called "Petsa list".
The matter takes on particular significance in light of statements made by Kalogiros himself approximately two months ago. The broadcaster, in his capacity as municipal councillor of Thessaloniki, had called for "rationalisation and transparency in municipal media", announcing furthermore that he intended to conduct a related investigation into the amounts spent on municipal news outlets.
Direct award to Interview and the connection to Georgiadis
In the same context, an earlier report had highlighted a direct award by Adonis Georgiadis, then Minister of Development, of €19,000—€24,200 with VAT—to the polling firm Interview. The company belongs to Dimitris Vasileiadis, who during that period maintained a close relationship with Vergina Television and Kalogiros.
Notably, whilst other polling companies of the time recorded negative assessments for Georgiadis, Interview was the only one that placed him in the top positions of popularity among government officials.
Two days after the award was made public, Georgiadis stated: "Yes, it was a direct award. ESPA required rapid research into the pandemic and of course within the limits set by the law of €20,000, it was given to Interview. It could have been given to any other company". The selection criteria for the specific company were never disclosed, which was not even a member of SEDEA (Association of Polling and Research Companies).
Kalogiros's background and the Macedonian issue
Kalogiros had also drawn public attention during the period of rallies over the Macedonian issue, when he temporarily served as "Press Spokesman" of an association of societies, Macedonian unions and retired military personnel. At that time he had "predicted" the dissolution of Skopje—a prediction that, eight years later, remains unfulfilled.
Source: In.gr