Cyprus’ connection with the spy surveillance network exposes our country internationally – Article by AKEL MEP Giorgos Georgiou and Vice-President of the Committee set up by the European Parliament to investigate the use of the Pegasus network and corresponding spyware

 

 

The reality is glaring but the government is burying its head in the sand…

Article by AKEL MEP Giorgos Georgiou and Vice-President of the Committee set up by the European Parliament to investigate the use of the Pegasus network and corresponding spyware

Friday, 26 August 2022, “GNOMI” weekly newspaper

Wiretapping, eavesdropping and surveillance do not simply represent yet another illegal action on the part of specific governments. They deal a deadly blow to the very heart of the political system and undermine the rule of law – what remains of it that is…It concerns not only politicians, political parties and journalists, that are in effect being followed, but also civil society itself. EU Rules, Directives and laws make up a sinister legislative framework that although – in theory – initially are meant to protect the confidentiality of communication, in reality through a web of regulations enables various intelligence services of states to undermine it.

By invoking “national security” and the war on terrorism and “radicalization” they are abolishing every concept of privacy and the protection of personal data.

After the scandal that broke out as a result of the reports by Amnesty International and journalists from 17 international mass media about the illegal operation of the sinful Pegasus spyware a relevant Committee of the European Parliament was established to investigate the entire matter. The information that came to light was astonishing.

Former Presidents of the Republic, Prime Ministers, government officials, politicians, journalists, trade unionists and activists were all under surveillance and being followed.

In Spain, the heads of the country’s intelligence services resigned, while an admission was made about the use of this devilish tool by the governments of Poland and Hungary, Holland, and now of Greece too albeit half-heartedly. The Israeli spyware firm NSO Group that produces this spyware, admits that it has supplied ‘Pegasus’ to another 14 at least European countries. The wiretapping and surveillance of the President of the PASOK-KINAL Socialist party of Greece and MEP Nikos Androulakis and of the journalist Thanasis Koukakis by ‘Predator’, the twin brother of ‘Pegasus, is just the tip of the iceberg.

Cyprus again at the centre of trouble

In Greece a political earthquake broke out. After the initial denials and resignations, the setting up of inquiry committees and interrogations subsequently followed. A ‘tidal wave of information, indications and proofs from Cypriot and foreign journalists and Members of the European Parliament and on the admission of the NSO Group itself, connect and link Cyprus with all that is taking place in Greece in an irrefutable way.

The former Israeli intelligence agents Dillian and Avni, acting as if our country was a free-for-all, established and set up companies in Cyprus through which they supplied their sinister spyware abroad too.

The black spy van and the cover up of the case in Cyprus by the Attorney General, the scandalous ties of the Deputy Attorney General with Dillian, the relations of the latter’s companies with the Cypriot Intelligence Service (KYP) and Police Force, as well as with political parties in our country, do not permit the government to bury its head in the sand…

European institutions and the global mass media are once again targeting Cyprus. After the disgrace with the ‘golden passports’ scandal, we now have the wiretapping and surveillance scandal.

Parties and presidential candidates, even officials of the ruling DISY party, are calling for an objective investigation of all aspects of the issue. The wiretappings and surveillances of politicians and journalists are damaging the rule of law and represent a constitutional aberration.

Cyprus’ connection with the spy networks expose our country all over the world. The facts are glaring.

The meetings of the inquiry committees in the Greek Parliament and in the European Parliament too are due to follow. There, Cyprus will be under scrutiny. The government – on its way out – at long last should save a little bit of its wounded dignity…