And by ministerial decree, the appointment of Elias Anagnostopoulos, a professor emeritus at the University of Athens and one of Greece’s most prominent criminal law experts, to the team of independent criminal investigators for the “Mafia State” case.
 
This appointment arose out of necessity following the resignation of Christos Mylonopoulos, who recused himself from the team due to his involvement as a lawyer in the Focus case.
 

The Cabinet has taken decisions to facilitate the investigators’ work, both in terms of administrative support and logistical infrastructure. A suitable location has already been identified, and arrangements have been made to provide the necessary staff.
 
The government turned a deaf ear to the voices opposing Anagnostopoulos’s appointment due to his involvement in the wiretapping case in Greece, as Tal Dillian’s defense attorney, citing the opinion it received from the Anti-Corruption Authority.
 “The Anti-Corruption
Authority has already stated that the ‘black van’ case was never an issue or the subject of this investigation, nor, therefore, is it included in the findings, which will be handed over to the independent criminal investigators.” ^{Konstantinos Letympiotis, Government Spokesperson}

Following today’s decision and the publication of the appointment of the five investigators in the Republic’s Official Gazette, the criminal investigators are expected to begin work immediately; their appointment is for a period of six months, with the possibility of extension.

The investigators from Greece are expected to arrive in Cyprus early next week to receive, in electronic form from the Ministry, the evidence collected by the Anti-Corruption Authority’s inspectors.
 
 “We must allow the team of independent criminal investigators to proceed as soon as possible with conducting all the necessary investigations,” ^{Konstantinos Letympiotis, Government Spokesperson}

The “spy van” case will be the subject of a separate investigation by the Independent Anti-Corruption Authority, which is expected to appoint investigators. This follows a preliminary investigation based on complaints filed with the Authority.

See the report by Christoforos Nestoros