Greece wiretapping and surveillance scandal

The Greek wiretapping scandal has escalated from domestic political denunciations to international legal challenges. Initially, Zoi Konstantopoulou, president of Plevesi Eleftherias, condemned the situation as a “crime against democracy,” accusing the judiciary of attempting to cover up crimes involving Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s administration. She specifically criticized the decision by Supreme Court Prosecutor Evangelos Bakellas to refrain from further investigation despite previous court orders for continued proceedings.

Following these domestic tensions, the matter has reached the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Journalist Thanasis Koukakis and former Transport Minister Christos Spirtzis have filed applications against the Greek state. Koukakis is challenging surveillance conducted by the National Intelligence Service (EYP) and the use of Predator spyware, raising concerns about judicial impartiality. Spirtzis has also filed an application, alleging “institutional decay” and government influence over the judiciary, specifically citing the refusal of the Supreme Court's Judicial Council to rule on the recusal of certain prosecutors.