The Independent Anti-Corruption Authority is passing the buck to the General Prosecutor’s Office regarding the classification of the correspondence they exchanged regarding the “black van” case Attorney General George Savvidis.
In a written statement, following the Authority’s decision to close the investigation into the high-profile case, the Attorney General states that “the reference in paragraph 7 of the Authority’s statement that the Attorney General classified the correspondence was the result both of the confidential information it contained and of the fact that the Authority itself had, correctly, classified its initial letter dated July 16, 2026.”
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The following is Mr. Savvidis’s statement verbatim:
Regarding the announcement by the Independent Anti-Corruption Authority (“the Authority”), dated September 14, 2026, “regarding the actions taken to conduct an investigation into the ‘black van’ case,” the Attorney General of the Republic wishes to clarify the following:
- Pursuant to Article 10 of Law 19(I)/2022, which prohibits the multiple investigation of corruption cases, the Authority, in a classified letter dated July 16, 2026, informed the Attorney General of its intention to conduct an investigation regarding very specific aspects of the “black van” case, which were detailed in the letter and did not concern the Legal Service’s handling of the case. In its letter, the Authority requested to be duly informed as to whether, under current legislation, it is prevented from conducting its own investigation.
- On July 30, 2026, the Attorney General also responded with a classified letter to the Authority stating that all aspects mentioned in her above-mentioned letter, without exception, had already been investigated by the police and the independent criminal investigator, and that it had been informed of the outcome of the investigation and the progress of the case before the Court.
- Based on the Attorney General’s response above and in light of applicable legislation, specifically Article 10 of Law 19(I)/2022, the Authority decided to terminate the investigation into the “black van,” informing the Attorney General in a letter dated September 8, 2026.
- The reference in paragraph 7 of the Authority’s announcement that the Attorney General classified the correspondence was the result both of the confidential information it contained and of the fact that the Authority itself had, correctly, classified its initial letter dated July 16, 2026.
SEE ALSO: “Black Van” Case: Anti-Corruption Authority Ends Investigation After Legal Service Halts It
Earlier today, the Independent Anti-Corruption Authority announced in a two-page report the conclusion of its investigation into the “black van” espionage case. As stated in the report, the Authority has been informed by the Legal Service that the aspects pertaining to the ex officio investigation it was conducting have already been examined by the competent authorities.
“However, the final outcome of the above actions is that the Legal Service concluded that everything the Authority wished to investigate had already been investigated by the competent authorities.”
The Authority explains that despite its intention to make the results of the investigation public, they were nevertheless classified as confidential by the Attorney General; therefore, “no further details can be provided, nor will there be any further comment from the Authority.”
