Μake us preferred on Google Paraskevi (Vivi) Tycheropoulou, the former OPEKEPE internal audit chief who raised concerns about suspected fraud in Greece’s agricultural subsidy system, has been unanimously cleared of disciplinary misconduct allegations by a five-member panel of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE).
The ruling, dated Oct. 8, 2026, accepted Tycheropoulou’s appeal on both procedural and substantive grounds, according to her lawyer, Antonis Vagianos. It overturned an earlier disciplinary decision issued under former OPEKEPE President Kyriakos Babasidis. The panel was chaired by a deputy appeals prosecutor.
The disciplinary case concerned Tycheropoulou’s decision to provide a deputy commissioner of the Court of Audit with a report identifying problems with livestock inspections in Crete. She was accused of breaching confidentiality and engaging in conduct considered inappropriate for a public sector employee. A disciplinary penalty was subsequently imposed during the tenure of another OPEKEPE president, Nikolaos Salatas.
Tycheropoulou had previously raised concerns about suspected irregularities in agricultural subsidy payments and cooperated with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), which has been investigating alleged fraud involving EU agricultural funds. She subsequently faced disciplinary proceedings and was removed from her position as OPEKEPE’s internal audit director. Her removal was the subject of a separate legal challenge. In ruling 411/2026, the Athens Single-Member Court of First Instance found that the decision to remove her from the post had been unlawful, abusive and retaliatory, and ordered her reinstatement. Despite that ruling, Tycheropoulou has not returned to her former position, according to her lawer.
Vagianos accused AADE Governor George Pitsilis of refusing to implement the court’s decision and of allowing her continued professional marginalization. Vagianos has also maintained in his public statements that the actions taken against Tycheropoulou by successive OPEKEPE administrations were intended to punish and discredit her because of her auditing work and cooperation with European prosecutors.
The latest decision concerns the specific disciplinary allegations arising from her disclosure of the livestock inspection report. It is separate from the court ruling on her removal and from the broader investigations into suspected agricultural subsidy fraud.
OPEKEPE, the now-defunct agency responsible for distributing EU agricultural subsidies, has been at the center of a widening fraud scandal involving false declarations of farmland and livestock holdings. The investigations have led to multiple criminal cases, including a recent Athens court ruling that convicted 19 defendants of fraudulently obtaining agricultural subsidies. Four sitting lawmakers from the governing New Democracy party also face criminal charges in separate proceedings. The first case, involving MP Katerina Papakosta, was adjourned until Nov. 20.
