Galery

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In his protective speech, former Defence Minister, who is accused of complicity in money laundering from bribes that he received from contracts for arms supplies, denied charges of criminal offenses before the Athens Court of Appeal.

According to Tsochatzopoulos, from the very beginning of his trial, the choice of both submarines and missiles TOR M1 was made by the then Council of State for Foreign Affairs and Defence, since it was decided that a radical change should be carried out not only at military level, but also at political level following the events known as the Crisis in Imia.

"I have no illegal assets or bank accounts," emphasised Tsochatzopoulos and said that the persecution against him was an organised conspiracy, prepared by "political and legal circles which have been actively involved in the political life of the country in recent years."

At the same time, the former minister said that former President of PASOK George Papandreou was personally responsible for his charges.

According to Akis Tsochatzopoulos, the Commission for a preliminary investigation to Parliament established "a shameful indictment which was subsequently changed," which resulted from Papandreou’s order.

The former Defence Minister said that his case is unique, since no other senior party member has undergone such a coordinated attack in recent decades.

He described the persecution of his personality as political and charges against him as unfounded.

Tsochatzopoulos talked a lot about his former party, noting that ever since George Papandreou headed PASOK, it became a manipulative party for the control of the state. "I opposed these views and Papandreou’s group decided to destroy me. In recent decades, there has been no such political attack against a senior party member and person who has always acted in favour of the state’s interests, as well as for the strengthening of the defence of the country," he said.

In terms of the national security the former Defence Minister said that "from the very moment in which the implementation of the programme for submarines is interrupted, Turkey will devour us within five years."

Akis Tsochatzopoulos also commented on topical political issues, speaking of "heartless creditors, who subjected Greek people to terrible trials."