At a time when the influence of surveillance in Greece seems to have reached its highest point, two Cypriot MEPs are expanding what they have seen to include Cyprus as well, notes Apostolos Tomaras in the article Daily Cyprus.

Due to what has been discovered in the past, first with the spy van and then with the PEGASUS software, the relevant EU authorities are being asked to intervene on both the Athens and Nicosia side to address mobile device interception complaints. telephones, Mr. Tomaras continues in his article.

Cypriot MEP George Georgiou Monday afternoon, he published an urgent letter sent to his President PEGAS Committee who are invited to “immediately organize an investigative mission to Athens to verify the allegations of illegal surveillance.” At the same time, Mr. Georgiou, in his letter, also refers to Cyprus and to what has recently been haunting the central prisons.

In his capacity as vice-president of said committee, Mr. Georgiou deplores what has come to light in Greece in connection with the wiretapping of Nikos Androulakis’ mobile phone. “This latest revelation comes just a few months after the latest 2022 Greek rule of law report, which mentions the case of a journalist who was “allegedly under the surveillance of the national intelligence service” and, in addition, was the target of spyware monitoring software. , similar to Pegasus (Predator). )’. Mr. Georgiou, in his letter, also included the KKE’s complaints about meetings in which the work of its Central Committee has been monitored in recent years.

MEP AKEL’s report is also made on Cyprus and the information that came to light about alleged surveillance of mobile phones in central prisons.

Mr. Georgiou, in his letter, cites journalistic information, on the basis of which the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Cyprus, Stefi Draku, allegedly gave verbal instructions to the prison department “to update and fully use the capabilities of existing software, including automatic activation of the surveillance system and recording a unique device code, identifier SIM card, date and time of the call and its geographic coordinates. This refers to a leaked DOJ letter that says the letter gave written instructions that allegedly support the idea that the DOJ wants to update the software to include surveillance capabilities instead of jamming.

Mr. Georgiou, in his letter, also spoke about the traces of the spy van case, which involves companies operating in Cyprus and producing phone monitoring software. As specifically stated in the letter: I strongly believe that these new revelations, coupled with constant indications and even admissions that there are companies operating in Cyprus that produce and export such software, pose a potentially huge challenge to democracy and the rule of law in Cyprus. . Cyprus, who demand that we put this case at the center of our Committee’s work. We look forward to discussing these issues at the next opportunity with a view to addressing these threats to European democratic values ​​and our individual rights.

After Mr. Georgiou on Tuesday, the MEP will follow up on the whole issue. Dimitris Papadakis, which will focus on the Cypriot aspect of surveillance, with a spy van at its apex. Despite the fact that the specific case has been brought to court, the Cypriot MEP believes that no answers have been received regarding the activities of the spy van. Mr. Papadakis, at a meeting with reporters tomorrow, will demand publicity for the victims of the spy van. The second issue that Mr. Papadakis will raise is the lack of what he says is an institutional basis for Cyprus-based companies producing and exporting telecommunications monitoring software. Mr. Papadakis believes that the Republic of Cyprus has done little on this issue, despite past uproar.

Source: Kathimerini Cyprus.