# Greek wire-tapping scandal

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/greek-wiretapping-scandal
> Updated: 2026-08-07T11:01:00.000Z. Sources: 30. Developments: 2.

In July 2026, MP Kyriakos Velopoulos voiced support for the government as the long-running telephone-tapping scandal remained in the public eye.

In August, the Greek Supreme Court Prosecutor, Evangelos Bakélas, issued four separate decisions rejecting requests to lift the archive status of the Predator surveillance investigation. These requests came from several high-profile figures, including former prime minister Antonis Samaras, former minister Christos Spirtzis, lawyer Zacharias Kesse, and journalist Thanasis Koukas.

Bakélas stated that no new evidence had been presented to justify reopening the case, noting that the allegations had been previously investigated and archived twice before. He further emphasized that legal constraints prevented the key witness, Tal Dilian, from being examined. While Bakélas noted the decision applies "for the time being" should new evidence emerge, the case remains archived.

Legal representatives criticized the ruling as "interpretive acrobatics" intended to avoid new evidence, while opposition parties PASOK and SYRIZA condemned the decisions as a cover-up that undermines public confidence in the justice system. The original trial sentenced four private individuals to a total of 126 years in prison; the matter is scheduled to return to the Court of Appeals in December for an appeal.

## Claims

- Prosecutor Evangelos Bakélas rejected four requests to lift the archive status of the telephone‑tapping case. (disputed by 18 sources)
- The case remains in the archive and will not be reopened. (disputed by 17 sources)
- The case is expected to reappear in December when a trial before the Court of Appeals is scheduled. (disputed by 17 sources)
- The requests were filed by former prime minister Antonis Samaras, former minister Christos Spirtzis and lawyer Zacharias Kesse. (disputed by 6 sources)
- Bakélas said no new evidence had been presented to justify a new investigation. (corroborated by 18 sources)
- The original trial resulted in total sentences of 126 years of imprisonment for four private individuals. (corroborated by 18 sources)
- Legal reasons cited include that witness Tal Dilian, who claimed to have sold the surveillance system to state entities, cannot be examined as a witness. (corroborated by 18 sources)
- The prosecutor issued separate acts for each of the three requests. (corroborated by 17 sources)
- The requests were filed by former prime minister Antonis Samaras, former minister Christos Spirtzis, lawyer Zacharias Kesse and journalist Thanasis Koukas. (corroborated by 17 sources)
- Prosecutor Evangelos Bakélas rejected requests to reopen the telephone‑tapping case. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-07: Greece Supreme Court Prosecutor rejects reopening wiretapping scandal

Greece's Supreme Court Prosecutor has rejected requests from former officials and victims to reopen the wiretapping scandal investigation, citing a lack of new evidence to unarchive the case.

30 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/greek-supreme-court-rejects-reopening-of-telephone-tapping-case

### 2026-07-11: Kyriakos Velopoulos backs Greek government in wire‑tapping scandal

Greek Solution chief Kyriakos Velopoulos has acted as a government ally, aiding New Democracy in key votes and the wire‑tapping scandal response despite an anti‑establishment image.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kyriakos-velopoulos-backs-greek-government-in-wiretapping-scandal

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Cite as: Greek wire-tapping scandal. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/greek-wiretapping-scandal