Belgian prosecutors have issued a European Arrest Warrant for former EU Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, connecting h...

Belgian prosecutors have issued a European Arrest Warrant for former EU Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, connecting him to the Qatargate corruption scandal through his involvement with the NGO Fight Impunity. The warrant covers two charges: participation in a criminal organization and money laundering. Belgian authorities consider Fight Impunity, the NGO at the center of the case, to have functioned as a criminal network for financial crimes. The same organization was previously linked to former MEP Eva Kaili and others caught up in the original Qatargate investigation. According to his defense, Avramopoulos received 75,000 euros through his role in the NGO, money he says came from entirely legal sources. He was summoned twice by Belgian prosecutors to provide explanations and failed to appear on both occasions, which prosecutors cited as a reason for issuing the warrant. The case file has reportedly been forwarded to the Court of Appeals and is now headed to the Greek parliament. Avramopoulos responded within hours with a written statement flatly denying any wrongdoing. He said the matter had already been closed three years ago "with full institutional transparency and with the seal of the European Commission," referencing a decision signed by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. He described his participation in Fight Impunity alongside other international figures as fully legal, audited, approved, declared, and taxed. He also stated he will not invoke parliamentary immunity and will instead approach Greek courts himself, asking for a full investigation and a definitive ruling on the matter. #Qatargate #Greece #EuropeanParliament