By Sarantis Michalopoulos
Apr. 17, 2023
Greece’s main opposition leftist Syriza party on Sunday asked the government whether it has exported Predator illegal spyware to Sudan, which currently is on the verge of civil war.
Particularly, Giorgos Katrougkalos, a Syriza lawmaker responsible for foreign matters, tweeted two press reports hinting that the conservative Greek government has exported illegal Predator spyware to the African country.
The Greek lawmaker referred to a December 2022 report by Kathimerini which revealed that the centre-right government (EPP) granted Intellexa SA company licenses to export the Predator spyware to two countries, one in eastern and another one in southeast Africa in November 2021.
The Greek government has already admitted to the New York Times that it granted export licenses for the use of spyware in Madagascar.
“Has the New Democracy government sent the Predator to Sudan? Did they involve Greece, even indirectly, in the civil war in the country?” Katrougkalos noted.
Reuters reported that at least 97 civilians had been killed and 365 injured since the fighting in Sudan started.
The fighting erupted on Saturday between army units loyal to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of Sudan’s transitional governing Sovereign Council, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, who is deputy head of the council.
The Greek lawmaker also cited an article by Israeli Haaretz suggesting that “Predator in the hands of the RSF will tip the balance of power in favour of a rogue former militia, bringing Sudan one step closer to open confrontation with the country’s armed forces and increasing the risk of civil war”.
The government has not yet reacted.
The issue of granting export licences was first reported by investigative outlet Inside Story and the New York Times, prompting the European Commission to demand an explanation.
However, Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis recently revealed that the Greek authorities have not replied to a request for information sent on 14 February.
Earlier this month, EURACTIV was informed that the EU prosecutor had launched an investigation over the so-called “Predatorgate”, and one aspect that is currently focusing on is the export licenses.
Particularly, two different sources told EURACTIV that the EU prosecutor has, in recent weeks, received specific information from Greek journalists investigating the wiretapping scandal.
“The persons who testified to the prosecutors submitted evidence proving that the administration of (Prime Minister) Kyriakos Mitsotakis facilitated the proliferation of Intellexa’s Predator spyware to countries such as Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Madagascar, and Bangladesh by granting export licences through the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” one source close to the matter said.
On a legal level, the EU prosecutor is examining whether the Greek government violated Regulation (EU) 2021/821 for the so-called “dual-use” products (i.e. products that require a special export licence because they can also be used in order to cause harm) to favour the Greek company Intellexa.
Following EURACTIV’s revelation, Greek government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou commented, “I don’t know that they [EU Prosecutor] have bothered us”.
“I imagine the prosecutor will do her investigation, which is welcome”, he added.
Thanasis Koukakis, an investigative journalist targeted with Predator, commented on social media, “The tragic events in Sudan bring back to the fore how the Greek government facilitated the export of the Predator software with which the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces were equipped”.
Renew Europe MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld also called on the European Commission to mount pressure on Greek authorities to provide answers as we can now see “tangible consequences on the ground”.
Reminder that the illicit exports of #spyware from the EU are not a hypothetical problem, but it has actual, tangible consequences on the ground. Will the @EU_Commission @VDombrovskis press GR and CY hard now, or maintain that it is national competence? @EP_PegaInquiry https://t.co/OyRU93SQlT
— Sophie in 't Veld (@SophieintVeld) April 16, 2023
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