Μake us preferred on Google Belgian authorities have revoked an arrest warrant issued for Dimitris Avramopoulos, a New Democracy lawmaker and former European commissioner, after he appeared voluntarily before investigators in Brussels in connection with the inquiry widely known as Qatargate.
The warrant had been issued by Belgian judicial authorities as part of their investigation into Avramopoulos’ possible criminal liability in the case.
The Greek Parliament had authorized the warrant’s execution only last week by waiving his parliamentary immunity, a step Avramopoulos himself supported. But that authorization ultimately was not needed, as Avramopoulos decided to appear in person before the Belgian authority that had issued the warrant and was subsequently questioned as part of the investigation. The Belgian authorities, following his testimony, revoked the warrant.
As a result, the Athens Court of Appeals no longer had any grounds to proceed with its execution of the arrest warrant, and proceeded to close the case.
Avramopoulos has denied from the outset any involvement in illegal activity connected with the Belgian investigation.
Avramopoulos Role at Fight Impunity
In a lengthy memorandum submitted during the parliamentary proceedings over his immunity, Avramopoulos addressed his participation on the honorary board of Fight Impunity, the organization at the center of the Belgian investigation.
He said his role was “exclusively honorary and advisory” and that he had no executive, administrative, financial or managerial responsibilities. Avramopoulos has also said that before taking on the role, he followed the procedures required of former European commissioners before the European Commission. Any compensation he received, he has said, was known to the Greek authorities and had been taxed.
