Former MEP Demetris Papadakis held a press conference on Wednesday presenting the findings of a private forensic examination of three mobile phones he used between 2019 and 2026, saying the results prove he had no communication with the individuals named in Makarios Drousiotis’s allegations against him.
The forensic findings
Forensic expert Alexis Mavros, appointed by Papadakis, said he was given full access to all three devices as well as their associated cloud accounts. Using software also used by police forces internationally, he searched for names connected to the case as keywords and found nothing relevant.
“There is no finding — not even a hint — that the alleged exchange of messages and communications published by Drousiotis ever took place,” Papadakis said, summarising the expert’s conclusions.
Mavros said the findings were submitted to police yesterday along with the devices themselves.
Expert criticises police
Mavros was sharply critical of how authorities have handled the investigation, arguing they should have verified the authenticity of the messages from the outset.
“For the sake of accuracy, the process should have gone the other way around. The authorities should have taken the messages and determined within minutes whether they were authentic. Unfortunately, I had to do it from the other direction,” he said.
Papadakis: ‘I am the victim of a set-up’
Papadakis said he believes he is the victim of a deliberate conspiracy targeting him and other EDEK figures, and called on authorities to investigate who fabricated the messages and how they reached Drousiotis.
“I want to discover this sick mind and have them brought before justice,” he said.
He suggested Drousiotis may himself have been deceived, but said the journalist nonetheless had an obligation to verify the material before publishing it. “We did more than we were required to do,” Papadakis added.
Papadakis filed a complaint against Drousiotis on March 31, alleging publication of false news and circulation of forged documents, and gave a statement to police on April 3.
Split with Alma
Papadakis announced he will not stand in the upcoming parliamentary elections, saying his political partnership with the Alma movement broke down after it distanced itself from him following Drousiotis’s posts — and before the forensic report was completed.
He said Alma chose to withdraw his candidacy without waiting for the expert’s findings and without taking seriously, in his words, the admissions of those involved in the case.
He said he believed Alma had rushed into its decisions and may face difficulties as further revelations emerge.
“The lack of trust and support for me and my effort to bring the truth to light inevitably led to a political divorce,” he said.
Background
Drousiotis, a journalist and Volt parliamentary candidate, made a series of public allegations touching on paedophilia, corruption and serious misconduct, saying he holds supporting evidence including messages, audio and photographs.
The allegations have not been proven, and some of those named have rejected them. Nicos Clerides, who legally represents the woman known as Sandy and holds an archive of messages central to the case, said he would hand the documents to authorities.
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