Laos

It seem unlikely that the leader of the ultranationalist Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) party, Giorgos Karatzaferis, will face bribery charges after it was revealed that two middlemen in an arms deal paid 1.6 million euros to his offshore company, sources have told Kathimerini.

China has lashed out at Turkey for offering shelter to roughly 200 Uighurs from the western Chinese region of Xinjiang who were rescued from a human-smuggling camp in Thailand.

An investigating magistrate is expected to summon two Greek businessman in the coming days who have been linked to kickbacks worth 5.5 million euros for the purchase of Super Puma helicopters, including 1.6 million euros that was found in an offshore account in the name of right-wing LAOS leader Giorgos Karatzaferis, according to prosecutors.

A parliamentary committee investigating the “pothen esches” (declaration of source of wealth) forms submitted by LAOS head Giorgos Karatzaferis unanimously declared late on Wednesday that the former minister should face charges over money found in foreign bank accounts. The committee also decided that the case should be heard by the Court of Audit.

Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) leader Giorgos Karatzaferis said on Monday that he has no knowledge of payments of 1.65 million euros allegedly made into offshore companies linked to the right-wing politician and family members.

A new GPO poll conducted for Mega TV gives SYRIZA a 6.5 percentage point lead over New Democracy.

The survey, whose results were shown on the Anatropi program late on Monday, also places centrist To Potami in third place.

Two men and three women from Laos were arrested on Friday at Kalamata Airport in the southern Peloponnese for trying to travel to Austria using forged passports.

The five passengers presented passports identifying them as being Chinese nationals but staff realized the documents were fakes.

Administrative Reform Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed opposition on Friday to New Democracy’s apparent plans to bring back into the fold politicians who had left the party in the past and went on to be part of what he termed “populist” parties.