European Lawmakers Press For Facts On Israeli Spyware Firms In Greek Cypriot Administration

The European Parliament has demanded an explanation on the presence of Israeli spyware companies in the Greek Cypriot administration and the extent of their operations, local media reported on Wednesday.

The European legislative assembly is tightening its scrutiny into the country, known to be hosting firms that market in illegal phone-hacking spyware.

The company in the spotlight is Intellexa, run by CEO and former Israeli intelligence officer Tal Dilian. It sells notorious Predator spyware, most recently involved in a surveillance scandal in Greece that led to the resignation of the country's intelligence chief.

Greek Cypriot daily Politis reported that the head of the European Parliament's surveillance software committee, Sophie In't Veld, sent a letter to Dilian questioning him on his role in a network of several companies under Intellexa's umbrella, and their operations in the Greek Cypriot administration.

Another of question was about Intellexa's relations with its subsidiaries, Wispears/Passitora and Cytrox Peterbald, and whether they have a corporate presence and/or financial connections to Israel, the daily added.

According to the daily, the questions raised in the letter directly interest the Greek Cypriot administration, as Dilian continues to maintain a corporate presence there.

In a press conference on Tuesday, European Parliament member Dimitris Papadakis of the Movement for Social Democracy demanded the list of people who have been subject to surveillance software provided by Intellexa.

He also asked the government to clarify whether it was true that political parties have purchased such spyware systems.

Papadakis did not rule out the possibility of the EU imposing sanctions on the Greek Cypriot administration over the operations of firms involved in illegal wiretapping.

"We are talking about a very serious accusation, which is accompanied by a violation of individual rights," he said.

Furthermore, Greek Cypriot presidential candidate Giorgos Kolokasides called for more light to be shed on the allegations of illegal spying, saying that officials in Greece have resigned over their role in unlawful surveillance, according to the daily Kathimerini.

"Either the government will be forced to open (the case) or outsiders will do it for us," he said. -