Greece’s Supreme Court, Areios Pagos, has dismissed as “entirely baseless” media reports alleging inaction by its Prosecutor’s Office regarding a request from the Ministry of Citizen Protection.
The reports claimed the ministry sought permission to publish the names of “90 fuel stations that have been sealed and 224 others found with tampered pumps.” Konstantinos Tzavellas, Deputy Prosecutor and spokesperson for the Areios Pagos Prosecutor’s Office, clarified that the Supreme Court’s Prosecutor lacks the authority to approve such disclosures and that no such request was ever submitted by the ministry.
In an official statement, the Prosecutor’s Office addressed the controversy, which stemmed from online media reports accusing the Supreme Court of delays. These reports tied the issue to a recent police operation—dubbed the “Greek FBI”—that dismantled a criminal organization involved in fuel fraud about 20 days ago. The operation led to arrests and ongoing judicial investigations. However, the Areios Pagos emphasised that under Greek law (Article 84A of Law 4624/2019, as amended), the authority to publicize such sensitive personal data lies solely with the Prosecutor of the First Instance, following a request from the investigating magistrate—not the Supreme Court.
“No request has ever been made to the Supreme Court Prosecutor by the Ministry of Citizen Protection, nor has the investigating magistrate sought approval from the Athens First Instance Prosecutor,” Tzavellas noted, refuting the claims. The statement concluded by reaffirming that the media allegations were unfounded, aiming to set the record straight on the court’s role in this high-profile case.
(Source: To Vima)