Well-known farmer union leader Konstantinos Anestidis is reportedly under scrutiny by state financial services and other specialized authorities in recent days, as discrepancies were identified in the ownership status of land he declared to receive agricultural subsidies. The investigation is in full swing, while he leads the Malgara blockade, one of the harshest in all of Greece, and has daily media presence regarding protesters’ demands. Police, Justice, and financial services are cooperating on the case, as the farmer union leader allegedly received total financial assistance reaching €210,550.22 for the years 2019 to 2024.
“I am innocent,” Anestidis declares
This amount comes from single payment scheme applications for all farms and areas he presented as cultivable. Part of the land, according to specialist analyses, shows discrepancies. These concern specific farms for which Mr. Anestidis received subsidies totaling €122,765.04. “I am innocent. I am as clear as lightning and lightning will strike their heads. Through my person they are trying to strike the farmers’ movement. They will not be able to do this,” stated Konstantinos Anestidis, calling it a “communication firework,” while threatening lawsuits. He denied being under investigation, which was also supported by his lawyer, Dimitris Tsikrikas, who clarified that the unionist’s tax number or bank accounts have not been frozen. Police officers investigating networks exploiting OPEKEPE are examining all tax numbers that received subsidies exceeding €100,000. Mr. Anestidis is among them. A discrepancy was found in the ownership status of 16 acres he declared compared to land registry data.
Police findings were transferred for investigation to competent financial services, which have not yet responded regarding the ownership status of the 16 agricultural plots, some appearing as leased and others as owned. As clarified, the well-known farmer union leader has additional declared agricultural plots for which during the same period (2019-2024) he received subsidies worth €87,785.18, which are completely legal and no issues have arisen regarding their ownership status. Competent audit services found that most of the 16 plots under investigation were also used in this year’s single payment application submitted by Mr. Anestidis.
Where investigations into suspicious agricultural subsidies stand
Investigators handling suspicious agricultural subsidy issues have not yet received necessary answers from financial services to have a clear picture of whether fraud exists and its documentation, if indeed established. According to sources, the investigation is at an advanced stage, but more time is needed for cross-checks, as several state services must answer questions posed by police and competent prosecutorial authorities.
