Ministry, EYP deny Valavani spying claims
Citizens’ Protection Minister Yiannis Panousis and the National Intelligence Service (EYP) on Tuesday categorically denied claims by former Alternate Finance Minister Nadia Valavani according to which state officials had wiretapped her conversations.
Valavani, who resigned last week in protest at ongoing austerity, claimed Tuesday that she had been monitored by EYP. Commenting following an outcry over reports that her mother withdrew 200,000 euros from her bank account a few days before capital controls were imposed, Valavani also claimed that one of the service’s listening devices was found to have gone missing after SYRIZA came to power in late January.
Responding to the claims, Panousis remarked that, “Mrs Valavani, as a minister, ought to know that the official state does not monitor Greek politicians or citizens for non-terrorist an non-criminal activities.” She should also know that EYP and the ministry “act on the basis of the Constitution and state laws,” he added.
A source at EYP told Kathimerini that, when the service’s new management assumed duties five months ago, they found no equipment to be missing.
