Greek prosecutor opens investigation into Pegasus spyware targeting of former MEP Stelios Kouloglou
The Athens First Instance Prosecutor's Office has launched a criminal inquiry into the wiretapping of former MEP Stelios Kouloglou following forensic evidence that his phone was infected with Pegasus spyware during European Parliament committee work.
Standalone prosecutor investigation
The Athens First Instance Prosecutor's Office ordered the opening of an independent preliminary criminal investigation following a lawsuit filed by former SYRIZA Member of the European Parliament and journalist Stelios Kouloglou. The legal action concerns the electronic surveillance and wiretapping of Kouloglou's mobile phone using the commercial spyware Pegasus.
Judicial authorities decided that the case will remain under the jurisdiction of the Athens First Instance Prosecutor's Office rather than being transferred to the Supreme Court (Areios Pagos). Prosecutors determined that the allegations constitute a distinct case file separate from earlier proceedings regarding the Predator surveillance software. The matter involves a different digital tool, a distinct time window, separate events, and corporate figures outside the group of individuals who received first-instance criminal convictions in the earlier Predator wiretapping trials.
Forensic findings by Citizen Lab
The basis of the legal action rests on a technical device examination conducted by the digital research organization Citizen Lab. The laboratory's forensic analysis confirmed multiple instances of surveillance on Kouloglou's smartphone across late 2022 and early 2023.
According to the forensic report cited in the filing, the device was initially compromised on 21 October 2022. Citizen Lab identified subsequent infiltrations on 6 March 2023 and 7 March 2023. Kouloglou linked these dates directly to his parliamentary duties, noting that the infections took place during active stages of the European Parliament's investigative work into illicit surveillance tools.
- Citizen Lab detects initial Pegasus spyware infection on Kouloglou's mobile device
- Second Pegasus infection detected during PEGA committee proceedings
- Third Pegasus infection identified on the device by Citizen Lab
- Athens First Instance Prosecutor opens preliminary investigation following criminal complaint
Connection to PEGA committee work
During the period of the detected intrusions, Kouloglou served as an alternate member of the European Parliament's PEGA committee. The special investigative committee was tasked with examining the deployment and commercial trade of intrusive spyware technologies across European Union member states, focusing specifically on systems such as Predator and Pegasus.
The former MEP asserted in his complaint that the surveillance targeted him during sessions where the committee evaluated evidence regarding state and commercial interception practices. The timing of the cyber intrusions aligned with key investigative hearings and drafting stages of the European parliamentary inquiry.
Felony accusations and legal proceedings
Filed through his attorney Zacharias Kesses, Kouloglou's lawsuit specifically names the statutory legal representatives and corporate executives of the Israeli manufacturer responsible for creating and licensing the Pegasus software. The lawsuit requests their formal criminal prosecution.
The legal complaint outlines multiple offenses, covering both misdemeanor and felony violations under Greek criminal law. The allegations include the violation of communications privacy, unlawful access to information systems or data, and unauthorized access to personal data, which carry felony penalties under revised domestic statutes.
The assigned investigating prosecutor will begin the preliminary inquiry by calling Kouloglou as the first witness to provide formal testimony. Greek judicial officials will then proceed with collecting and evaluating digital forensic evidence before deciding whether to file formal indictments against the named corporate representatives.
