Dear friends, good day to you all!
The case of surveillance and Predator has a distinctive feature. Everyone is aware of their existence, and everyone acknowledges their seriousness. Yet no one can answer basic questions about it. Much less take responsibility for it. As the years go by, however—and quite a few have passed since July 2022—the Greek state seems to keep coming across traces of it.
The wiretapping case was shelved twice by the Supreme Court.
The prosecutor’s ruling concluded that neither espionage nor the compromise of state secrets had been proven. In other words, that major national security issue that had long weighed on public life was not substantiated.
At the same time, however, when a new parliamentary inquiry was requested, the government rejected the request, citing precisely reasons of national security, the EYP, and sensitive aspects of the state’s operations.
This is where common sense comes to an end.
Because either this is a matter involving private individuals, in which case there is no reason to avoid parliamentary scrutiny, or state mechanisms are involved, in which case citizens have a right to know what happened and who is responsible.
This is where the new revelations come in: According to “To Vima tis Kyriakis,” government documents, letters of recommendation, and certificates of good standing used to facilitate Predator exports to third countries are reportedly issued by the Greek government.
If documents of this kind were indeed issued by Greek authorities, then a question arises that is difficult to ignore: How is it possible for the Greek state to certify or facilitate the international transfer of software, when its use in Greece was and remains illegal?
Who signed? Who approved? Who knew? And under what institutional authority?
At this very point, the convenience of general formulations collapses. “Private individuals” is a convenient term. Often so convenient that it can encompass the entire state.
Tal Dillian claims that Intellexa sold exclusively to government agencies and never operated the systems it provided itself. PASOK is demanding answers regarding the alleged government documents. SYRIZA and other political forces are calling for him to be summoned to testify about what he knows.
Are they right? Are they wrong? It is completely irrelevant. The point is to verify the claims of a man who appears at the center of this case.
Because in a democracy, no one has the right to demand that we believe them without evidence. Nor does anyone have the right to rule out an investigation when new questions arise. That is why, perhaps, the time has come for the obvious.
The Parliament’s Committee on Institutions and Transparency should be convened. Tal Dillian and Grigoris Dimitriadis should be summoned. They should publicly testify to what they know. Questions should be asked and answers given based on facts, not insinuations.
If Predator was indeed a “private” matter, the investigation will confirm it. If there was state involvement, the public has a right to know.
Because democracy does not fear the truth. It needs it.
As long as answers are delayed, the shadows do not fade. They grow. And they return, again and again, demanding the obvious: transparency, accountability, and clear answers to the public.