Greek prosecutors archive OPEKEPE case involving two MPs

The Prosecutor of First Instance ruled that the file of the OPEKEPE investigation should be placed in the archive. The case concerned possible criminal liability of ruling‑party MPs Charalampos Athanasiou and Tasos Chatzivasileiou, as well as former head of the Agricultural Payments Organisation Dimitris Mela, for alleged ethical misconduct between September 2021 and December 2021.

The prosecutor’s preliminary examination found no indications of ethical breach by the two legislators, leading to the decision to close the file pending confirmation by the Prosecutor of Appeals. Following the lifting of parliamentary immunity, the MPs were summoned for questioning as suspects. In response, MP Charalampos Athanasiou said, “Μία παντελώς αβάσιμη υπόθεση αρχειοθετήθηκε. Δήλωσα τότε και δηλώνω και τώρα, ότι όσο υπηρετώ αυτόν τον τόπο και τους πολίτες του, θα παρεμβαίνω προς υπεράσπιση των νόμιμων αιτημάτων τους.”