Third party “key” in the case of notification of expatriate emails

The conclusion of the Internal Audit Unit of the Ministry of the Interior regarding the sending of e-mails to emigrants was delivered to the authorities today (26.4.24).

Information indicates that the conclusion mentions a third person who played a key role in the case of the disclosure of information of Greek voters abroad.

According to the same information, this person testified that the list he had at his disposal was requested by the then General Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, Michalis Stavrianoudakis and as he was his superior, he thought he ought to give it to him.

However, according to the civil service code, he was not obliged to hand over the list of deportees to his superior.

As emphasized in the announcement of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Internal Audit Unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs came to an extensive conclusion which was delivered today by the minister Niki Kerameos and the deputy minister Theodoris Livanios to the Head of the Athens First Instance Prosecutor’s Office and to the president of the Personal Data Protection Authority.

The finding recommends disciplinary action based on the findings. Recommendations are also included to further strengthen security measures in relation to the protection of personal data.

The timeline of the case

As it turned out, the list of controversial emails that left en masse from the office of the ND MEP, Annas Michel Asimakopoulouleaked from the electoral building in Stadiou, after the electoral process of May 2023, i.e. under a caretaker government.

Acquired by an associate of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Michalis Stavrianoudakiswho promoted her to the Secretary of Expatriates of the ND Nikos Theodoropoulos to reach the hands of the “blue” MEP. Following these, Anna Michelle Asimakopoulou withdrew from the candidate race for the upcoming European elections.

The announcement of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

The Press Office of the Ministry of the Interior announces the following:

From the first moment, the political leadership of the Ministry of the Interior stated that the case of complaints about sending e-mails to Greek citizens living abroad will be fully clarified.

Precisely for this reason, on the first working day after the citizens’ complaints, the Minister Niki Kerameos and the Deputy Minister Thodoris Livanios, gave an order to carry out an internal audit at the Ministry of the Interior.

The Internal Audit Unit of the Ministry carried out a full audit that resulted in an extensive conclusion, which Ms. Kerameos and Mr. Livanios handed over today to the Head of the Athens Prosecutor’s Office and the President of the Personal Data Protection Authority, to facilitate their investigations.

A central element of the finding is the verification, during the period of May – June 2023, of non-institutionally prescribed traffic, within the Ministry of the Interior, of personal data of Greek citizens living abroad who had registered to vote in the 2023 parliamentary elections.

The finding recommends disciplinary action based on the findings.

Recommendations are also included to further strengthen security measures in relation to the protection of personal data.

On the basis of the Internal Audit findings, the Minister and the Deputy Minister proceed with the procedures for the said disciplinary actions as well as for the further strengthening of the security measures in relation to the protection of personal data.