Former New Democracy MEP, ex-officials to face trial in November over ‘email gate’
Former New Democracy MEP Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou, along with three other individuals, is set to stand trial on November 24 over the so-called “email-gate” scandal, concerning the leak of email addresses belonging to Greeks living abroad.
The trial follows the completion of a preliminary investigation by the Athens Prosecutor’s Office in July.
The other defendants are former Interior Ministry secretary general Michalis Stavrianoudakis and former New Democracy officials Nikos Theodoropoulos and Menios Koromilas.
All four face misdemeanor charges of breach of official secrecy and violation of personal data protection laws.
The Hellenic Data Protection Authority had previously imposed fines of €400,000 on the Interior Ministry, €40,000 on New Democracy and Asimakopoulou, and €10,000 each on Theodoropoulos and Koromilas.
While the Council of State annulled the fine imposed on New Democracy, it upheld the penalties against the three individuals.
Meanwhile, dozens of lawsuits have been filed by Greeks abroad, seeking compensation for the data leak.
The “email gate” scandal concerns the unlawful use of personal data from the special electoral register of Greeks living abroad. Asimakopoulou, then an MEP representing New Democracy, was accused of using this data for promotional purposes without proper authorization.
In March 2024, the records of some 25,000 expatriate voters were leaked to Asimakopoulou, who used the data in her election campaign. Asimakopoulou sent the emails on the same day the Interior Ministry separately informed expatriates that they could vote by mail in the upcoming election.
The case ultimately led to her withdrawal from the New Democracy ticket for the European elections, which were held in June 2024.
Kathimerini
