The case of the Russian pranksters and their connection to the Prime Minister’s national security advisor, Thanos Dokos, has taken on major political dimensions. After the two pranksters appeared on MEGA TV and claimed they used no artificial intelligence — only a Gmail account and, as they put it, “a little makeup” — Pavlos Marinakis lashed out at opposition parties for choosing to believe the pranksters over Thanos Dokos. Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus claimed that “we suggested a Zoom call and he agreed,” adding that “he was in a restaurant or café… Discussing such sensitive matters in a place where there are waiters and other customers around is itself a serious problem… This is simply not normal or professional.” They also insisted they are not intelligence agents.
Read more: PASOK attacks Mitsotakis over Thanos Dokos: “Instead of waiting for the phone to ring at 3 in the morning, he should do what’s right in broad daylight”
Marinakis: The opposition is choosing to believe Russians who admit to being pranksters
Pavlos Marinakis spoke on Blue Sky TV, expressing his astonishment that opposition parties are siding with the pranksters: “I find it deeply striking that some in our country — and specifically opposition parties — are choosing to believe certain foreigners, Russians in this case, who claim to be pranksters — a claim we have serious and substantial doubts about — over the national security advisor.”
“In other words, what individuals from that particular country with that particular track record are saying is, to them, more credible than what the Greek national security advisor is saying, backed by a series of arguments. The second point, which is of great significance and is frankly troubling, and again concerns the opposition, is the fact that what appears to be a new hybrid threat — one that has ensnared foreign leaders, not merely counterparts of Mr. Dokos, but actual heads of state — has led the opposition recklessly, and without gathering the facts, to call for Mr. Dokos’s resignation within just a few hours. That includes the main opposition party, PASOK. This is clearly a serious matter in terms of the new hybrid threat we are facing,” he continued.
He added: “As we said from the very beginning, no data compromising national security was shared in any of these conversations. And if one listens to what Mr. Dokos has said — because the opposition rushed to condemn him before hearing him out — this reveals both panic and desperation, especially from the parties that issued statements. Mr. Dokos, based on a number of indicators, believed he was speaking with a person he knew — and was even seeing on video — someone he had previously met in person. All of this clearly points to the need for Greece and other countries to further strengthen their security systems, and it is certainly a very serious conversation that we must continue to have, constantly reinforcing our safeguards — but not in terms of petty political point-scoring.”
The 3 a.m. phone call reference
Pavlos Marinakis also addressed comments made by PASOK and the Greek Left Alliance (ELAS) on the matter. Both parties referenced a phone call at 3 in the morning, mocking a recent statement made by Kyriakos Mitsotakis. PASOK stated: “A third consecutive day of national embarrassment, fuelled by the inexplicable shield of protection that Maximos Mansion is providing to the Secretary General of National Security, Mr. Dokos. The Russian pranksters, in their interview on Mega, reiterated that they simply sent a plain email and Mr. Dokos agreed to a video call with them. Unbelievable amateurism from the man entrusted with handling classified intelligence from state security services and the government. Is Mr. Mitsotakis satisfied? The Prime Minister who presents himself as supposedly indispensable — instead of waiting for the phone to ring at 3 in the morning, should do what’s right in broad daylight.”
The Greek Left Alliance commented: “Mr. Mitsotakis, who advertises himself and his government as the most reliable on matters of security, has yet to respond to the public humiliation inflicted by the Russian pranksters on the national security advisor at Maximos Mansion. Perhaps because, if the emergency line rings at three in the morning, it’s Mr. Dokos who’s been assigned to pick it up — so the Prime Minister doesn’t have to wake up at dawn. With a government like this, we have every reason to sleep soundly. If we can ever stop laughing long enough to do so.”
