Testimony took place on Thursday as part of the second defamation lawsuit filed by Grigoris Dimitriadis, the former Secretary-General of the Prime Minister’s Office, against journalists and a publishing house. Dimitriadis accuses them of defamation related to their investigations into the Predatorgate surveillance scandal, which Ta Nea newspaper describes as a case that raises critical questions about the right of journalists to investigate such matters.
The Athens Court of First Instance had previously dismissed a separate lawsuit by Dimitriadis against journalists and media outlets, ruling that the reports in question contained no false or defamatory content and were in the public interest.
Predatorgate & Dimitriadis’ New Defamation Lawsuit
This latest lawsuit, discussed at the Athens Court of First Instance, targets the Efimerida ton Syntakton newspaper and reporters from Reporters United. Dimitriadis is seeking €950,000 in damages, alleging that their reporting on the surveillance scandal defamed him.
His legal team argued that the articles about Dimitriadis and his alleged connection to the Predator spyware were defamatory, creating the impression that he was involved in suspicious activities that embarrassed the Prime Minister.
The reports in question involve SMS messages sent from Dimitriadis’ phone containing links that allegedly downloaded spyware into recipients’ devices. The prosecution cited findings from the Data Protection Authority showing the messages were sent from Dimitriadis’ phone but asserted he did not intentionally send them. “Grigoris Dimitriadis accepts any political criticism but not defamation,” said his legal representative.
Media Personalities Defend Investigative Reports
Ta Nea reported that prominent columnist Paschos Mandravelis from Kathimerini testified in court, defending the newspaper in question. Mandravelis stated, “I have often clashed with Efimerida ton Syntakton,” but described the publication as “flawless” in this case. He further characterized the surveillance scandal as “the biggest scandal of the post-dictatorship era” and accused Dimitriadis and the Greek government of attempting to suppress the issue.
Mandravelis highlighted unresolved questions about SMS messages sent to 11 individuals who had sent name-day wishes to Dimitriadis and received “infected” replies. “If Mr. Dimitriadis had pursued those responsible instead of journalists, we might have found out who they were,” he argued.
He also stated, “The discussion about surveillance was silenced, and I believe Mr. Dimitriadis, through lawsuits and legal notices, also seeks to suppress this investigation.” He lamented that “unfortunately, the surveillance scandal does not concern everyone” and noted, “We still haven’t learned who was spying on half the Cabinet.”
Journalist Tasos Telloglou, who has extensively investigated the surveillance scandal, also testified. Addressing an article Dimitriadis claimed was defamatory, Telloglou said, “This article is thorough,” explaining how the surveillance operated. He clarified, “The article does not claim that Dimitriadis typed and sent the messages himself.”
History of the Predatorgate Scandal
In August 2022, Grigoris Dimitriadis resigned from his role as Secretary-General of the Prime Minister’s Office following revelations of a surveillance scandal involving the Predator spyware.
Often referred to as “Predatorgate,” the scandal involved the use of spyware to monitor politicians, journalists, and other public figures in Greece, including high-profile targets such as the president of the main opposition party, PASOK. Investigations revealed links between Dimitriadis and companies associated with the spyware’s distribution in Greece, leading to intense scrutiny and unfavorable media coverage.
In response, Dimitriadis filed multiple defamation lawsuits against media outlets and journalists, including Efimerida ton Syntakton, Reporters United, and journalist Thanasis Koukakis, seeking substantial damages. These lawsuits have been widely criticized as Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), aimed at silencing investigative journalism.
International organizations, including Reporters Without Borders and the European Federation of Journalists, have condemned Dimitriadis’ lawsuits as efforts to stifle press freedom. They have called for stronger legal protections against SLAPPs in Greece, emphasizing the critical role of investigative journalism in a democracy.
The Verdict
After hearing testimonies from both sides and reviewing the evidence, the judges will issue their decision in the coming months.
The case continues to be closely watched as a litmus test for press freedom and accountability in Greece.
