Journalist and TV presenter Themos Anastassiadis, a chief suspect in a probe into the blackmail of former Culture Ministry general secretary Christos Zachopoulos, was released

yesterday after depositing 300,000 euros in bail. Anastassiadis, who had been charged with breaking privacy laws after allegedly viewing a video showing Zachopoulos having sex with his assistant Evi Tsekou, was released after testifying before an investigating magistrate. His release is conditional on him regularly reporting to police and not leaving the country.

Anastassiadis, publisher of the weekly Proto Thema newspaper, said his release showed he had been unfairly charged. “The conspiracy that has targeted Proto Thema for the past 10 months has collapsed spectacularly ... no accusations were confirmed,” he said.

Last month Tsekou, a key suspect in the Zachopoulos probe, was freed after seven months in jail.