“If released, I will stay in Belgium. I am innocent and I will fight to the end»- Corriere.it

FROM OUR REPORTER
BRUSSELS – On December 9, Eva Kaili’s life plunged into the abyss of a cell in Haren prison, after the police found a lot of cash in the beautiful house she shares with her partner Francesco Giorgi in the center of Brussels. She accused in the investigation that rocked the European Parliament of which she was vice president of being one of Giorgi’s and Antonio Panzeri’s pawns to influence the policy in favor of Qatar and Morocco, the Pasok MEP was dismissed from the vice-presidency of the assembly. Last Thursday, the judges rejected his request for release by extending his pre-trial detention by a month.

Lawyer Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, you defend Kaili with your colleague André Risopoulos. How did the former vice president spend Christmas?

«Eva Kaili is living a nightmare in prison, a catastrophe because she is innocent. The only person who visited her on Christmas day was her father.’

After the December 22 hearing, you did not appeal the judges’ decision to extend your custody. Don’t you trust Belgian justice?

“I have complete faith in the Belgian judicial system. My Belgian colleague André Risopoulos and I have been practicing lawyers for more than 30 years and experience shows us that if we appeal to the court of appeal and it is rejected, then the chances of Kaili being released from prison in the future would be virtually nil. It would be really difficult that, if we asked the Court of First Instance to release her, the judges would go against the decision already taken by higher level judges”.

At the moment, the allegations we know of are generic. It would be necessary to know better who did what, how and when. As Kaili’s lawyer, do you know any more?

“According to the arrest warrant, the charges are bribery of a public official, money laundering and criminal association. What I can say is that they are very vague and that they are not based on true circumstances, but only on the fact that the money was found under the same roof that Eva Kaili shared with her partner.’

Lawyer, he has already declared that his client is collaborating with the Belgian justice system. Have you been questioned again recently?

“He made a new statement last week to the police. It was the first time he was in good enough psychological condition to be fully aware of what he was saying, and it was the first time he had a good interpreter.’

What is Kaili feeling right now?

“After what she’s read in the investigation file, she feels betrayed. Her name was used without her knowledge, before the day of her arrest she knew nothing of the money that was found in the house, her money did not belong to her nor did she keep it.’

Kaili said she understood the decision to dismiss her despite being based only on press reports. Two weeks after your arrest, do you still think so?

«I believe that the preventive custody to which she is subjected is wrong because there are no serious indications of guilt, she was not a fugitive and could not have canceled the evidence of the investigation. In any case, your position is that the removal decided by President Metsola is correct while there is an ongoing investigation ».

What did he know of the relationship between Giorgi and Panzeri who, according to the prosecution, were behind the NGO Fight with impunity? Do you think you are their victim?

«What you know is that Panzeri had known and collaborated with Giorgi for many years. Kaili, however, had never been aware of the degree and type of collaboration between them and for her it would be a painful surprise if the accusations against them were confirmed in court ».

Have you ever voted in Parliament based on what Giorgi or Panzeri asked you?

«He always voted according to his conscience, neither Panzeri nor the father of his little girl ever influenced his vote. Establishing trade relations with Qatar has been a central policy of the European Union. Europe needs gas from Qatar so as not to stay in the cold. After the President of the European Council Charles Michel visited Qatar and held talks at the highest official levels, after President Metsola officially met a Qatari minister, after Joseph Borrell, EU foreign affairs representative, publicly supported trade relations with Qatar, it is hypocritical to claim that Kaili had a personal agenda with Qatar. The one and only time that you voted in favor of visa-free entry into Europe for those arriving from Qatar, you followed the line of central policy of the European Parliament. The result was 70 yes and 30 against, so her vote had no weight ».

When he’s free, what will he do? Will he stay in Belgium or will he go back to Greece?

“If she is released, she will remain in Belgium and fight until her innocence is recognised.”

You can imagine how he feels without his little girl.

“Her heart is literally bleeding for her 22-month-old daughter who is alone and can only count on her elderly grandfather.”