The European Court of Human Rights (Strasbourg) issued a guilty verdict for violating the presumption of innocence against Greece for statements made by Olga Gerovasilis when she was a government representative in the SYRIZA-ANEL government.

Her statements concerned the then General Secretary of State Revenues, Aikaterini Savvaidu, who was fired by the SYRIZA government and faced allegations of disloyalty to the public, in which she was irrevocably acquitted, and was also acquitted by the Council of State. The condemnation of Greece – a symbolic fine of 6,000 euros, but the discrediting result of the decision is great – concerns the statements of the then representative of the government, Olga Gerovassilis, against Ekaterina Savvaidou shortly after the cabinet that dismissed her, while she preceded her. participation in justice.

Then, as stated in the court decision, the government representative, not respecting the presumption of innocence, while Aikaterini Savvaydu was on trial, made disparaging statements about her, which could negatively affect her judicial treatment and send a signal that the government is against .

“While there were criminal charges against the applicant,” the decision states, “the wording of these statements, i.e. without any reservations, created the impression that the applicant was involved in activities contrary to the public interest and links to corruption, violating the presumption of innocence.”

“It is impossible,” said Ms Gerovasili at the time, “to admit that public officials act contrary to the public interest and promote the development of certain enterprises that were patronized by previous governments and which were the core of corruption (…).” .

Ms. Savvaidou’s lawyer Vassilis Heirdaris, who handled the case at the Human Rights Court in Strasbourg, notes in his statement, among other things. “With yesterday’s decision, the ECtHR restores a flagrant injustice against my client, restoring the presumption of her innocence, which was influenced by the public statements of the then representative of the government. This decision is also a call to Greek officials and politicians to respect the accused and the presumption of innocence. It’s not their right, it’s a duty.”