The criminal investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) regarding the Vasiliko terminal project is still ongoing, according to the Independent Anti-Corruption Authority, which notes that, as a result, it would not be appropriate for the Authority to launch a parallel investigation, which is also not permitted under the provisions of current legislation.
A statement from the Authority notes that “former Minister of Energy George Papanastasiou, in an interview on the ‘Tsouroullis Uncensored’ podcast with journalist Chrysanthos Tsouroullis, referred, among other things, interference by financial interests and the relationship between those interests and political superiors who are obstructing the completion of the energy planning for the aforementioned Project, as well as to deliberatedecisions.”
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The above statements, it is added, “prompted political parties, organizations, and public figures to call on the Authority to conduct an ex officio investigation into the matter in question.”
Based on evidence gathered by the Authority and after contacting some of the individuals involved, the announcement continues, it became apparent that this was not the first time Mr. Papanastasiou had made these allegations.
“In fact, when the issue had previously been made public, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of AKEL, Mr. Stefanos Stefanou, had sent a letter on September 29, 2025, a letter to the Commissioner for Transparency, requesting that an ex officio investigation be conducted,” the report states.
The Authority, it adds, “after reviewing the request and contacting the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), was informed that a criminal investigation into the project in question was already underway by the EPPO.”
“Following these recent developments, the Authority requested and received further information confirming that the EPPO’s criminal investigation is still ongoing and covers all the issues mentioned in Mr. Papanastasiou in the aforementioned podcast,” the statement notes.
Therefore, it concludes, “it would not be appropriate for the Authority to launch an investigation parallel to that of the EPPO, which, moreover, is not permitted under the provisions of current legislation.”
Source: CNA
