AKEL MEP Giorgos Georgiou confirms that hundreds of citizens’ mobile phones were wiretapped by Avni and Dillian
Drakou and Dillian refuse to talk to the European Parliament PEGA Committee which is coming to Cyprus today
1 November 2022, ‘Astra’ radio station
Cyprus is completely involved in all that is happening regarding the wiretapping/surveillance of telephone conversations, vice-president of the European Parliament’s Committee of Inquiry [PEGA] and AKEL MEP Giorgos Georgiou told ‘Astra’ radio. He pointed out that it all started from the erroneous handlings and the mock trial on the black spy van case and through the provocative connection of the deputy Attorney General to the protagonists of that case.
AKEL MEP Giorgos Georgiou said that back then, much of the evidence that existed with regards the black spy van was concealed, but also destroyed, including evidence concerning the illegal entry into it of persons from the Presidential Palace, the Central Intelligence Service (KYP) and the Police Anti-narcotics Unit (YKAN). G.Georgiou recalled the questions put by the lawyer Chris Triantaphyllides who wondered why the charges against Mr. Dillian were dropped and whether this was done to prevent him from saying who told him to spy on whom.
The AKEL MEP confirmed that PEGA will ask to be handed the probe of the investigating officer Elias Stefanou, which was never made public, and also will ask for information about the existing legal framework and whether there are companies here in Cyprus, despite the fact that the government replied negatively and that it supposedly does not know about the operation of the NSO cyber intelligence Group. Nevertheless, he stressed, there is a pile of testimony, evidence and ample proof that the government is indeed aware, as well as cooperating with the Israeli agents, just as it is aware that these companies do exist.
Giorgos Georgiou explained that all the subsidiary companies operating not only in Cyprus, but also abroad end up with Mr. Avni and Mr. Dillian who are based in Larnaca. He recalled a police report in 2016 which admitted that Mr. Avni’s company sells spy surveillance systems. He also recalled NSO’s admission in both 2019 and 2021 that it uses Cyprus to produce and export this spy software.
G.Georgiou confirmed that Mr. Dillian and Justice Minister Stefi Drakou refused to meet with the PEGA Committee. He also underlined the danger that Cyprus would be exposed if it did not cooperate with the European Parliament Committee of Inquiry, which will prepare a report on the matter.
Hundreds of phones were tapped
AKEL MEP Giorgos Georgiou characterised the information that a surveillance company has recently tapped hundreds of mobile phones in Nicosia as “very serious”.
Avoiding naming the company, G.Georgiou stressed that even today, surveillance companies continue to operate in Cyprus despite the government’s denials to the contrary that there are no such companies here.
There is, the AKEL MEP said, a barrage of evidence, while he wondered what more does the Attorney General expect for him to order an investigation to be carried out and appoint criminal investigators to clear Cyprus’ name.
