Chief corruption prosecutor Eleni Raikou issued criminal charges against high-ranking officials of the Greek foreign ministry who served in the early 2000 and who were responsible for approving state funds to non-governmental organizations. The case file concerning officials was forwarded to Greek Parliament in a symbolic move as the statute of limitations protects former socialist PASOK prime minister George Papandreou – who was foreign minister at the time – and his deputy with immunity from prosecution.

The investigation concerns misuse of millions of euros worth of state funds by the International Mine Initiative, a non-government organization that had undertaken to defuse operations in Bosnia, Iraq and Lebanon. The group allegedly received more than 9 million euros worth of funds illegally.

The investigation also focused on the EastWest Institute, a US-based think tank with work in Serbia that received 900,000 euros from 2001 through to 2003. A preliminary probe found that the money was syphoned to the group without going through the necessary channels as the organization didn’t meet the necessary criteria for the funding.