Greek journalist to stand trial over ‘Lagarde list’ leakOctober 29, 2012 - 12:48 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A Greek journalist has been arrested after publishing a list of about 2,000 Greeks who hold accounts with the HSBC bank in Switzerland, according to BBC News. Kostas Vaxevanis has been charged with breach of privacy. Vaxevanis says the list he published is the same one that was given by the then French finance minister Christine Lagarde to her Greek counterpart. Some of those named, said to include many prominent Greeks, are suspected of using the accounts for tax evasion. The list was originally leaked by an HSBC employee and then handed over by Lagarde to Greek authorities two years ago. Since then, successive Greek governments have been accused of trying to cover it up. "Instead of arresting the tax evaders and the ministers who had the list in their hands, they're trying to arrest the truth and freedom of the press," Vaxevanis said. He is due in court on Monday, Oct 29, to answer the charges after publishing in the names in his Hot Doc magazine. "The prosecutor issued a warrant for Vaxevanis's arrest because he published a list of names without special permission and violated the law on personal data," a police official said. "There is no proof that the persons or companies included in that list have violated the law. There is no evidence that they violated the law on tax evasion or money laundering." The names on the list are said to include politicians, businessmen and others, sparking fury among ordinary Greeks as they are hit by deep austerity measure. The issue has reignited claims that tax evasion remains rife in Greece, and that the authorities still are not serious about tackling it. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |