October 11, 2026

Athens News

News in English from Greece

Karystianou, Avgerinos and "Hand of Moscow"as an argument in political struggle


Maria Caristianu and journalist Thanasis Avgerinos filed a lawsuit against Nikos Karahalios because of the statement “Moscow’s instructions”.

Maria Caristianu and journalist Thanasis Avgerinos filed a lawsuit against the party’s former political planning secretary New Democracy Nikos Karahaliosaccusing him of slander.

The reason was public statements Karahalios that the new political project Maria Karistianu supposedly created by “instructions from Moscow”. A journalist was also implicated in these allegations Thanasis Avgerinoswho worked as a correspondent in Moscow for many years.

According to SKAITuesday morning Karystiana And Avgerinos came to the police station Syntagma and filed a lawsuit against Karahalios for false and defamatory statements. Similar information was provided Newsit, Ta Nea And The T.O.C..

What Karahalios claimed

The day before Nikos Karahalios published message to X, where he stated that Karystiana allegedly received “instruction from Moscow/Avgerinos” immediately start creating a party. This publication was quoted by Greek media, including Proto Theme And Efsyn.

After that Karystiana And Avgerinos demanded that Karahalios provided evidence of his claims. According to the content of the claim, if he cannot confirm the words about the alleged “indication”the procedures provided for by law will be continued against him.

Autoforo and questions to the police

Greek publications also indicate that the lawsuit specifically mentions the duration of the procedure autoforo – detentions without delay. According to Proto Themethe applicants noted that this period expires in 12:00and raised the question of whether the necessary actions had been taken to search for Karahalios.

Greek media reports also contain criticism of ΕΛ.ΑΣ. And Ministry of Citizen Protection regarding the response to the filed lawsuit. Here, however, it is important not to get ahead of the court: for now we are talking about the statements of the parties and the beginning of the legal procedure, and not about proven guilt. Yes, it’s boring. But then you won’t have to pretend that the editors confused the court with a coffee shop of political rumors.

Political background

This story comes amid reports of the creation of a new political project Maria Karistianuwhich after the tragedy in Tempi has become one of the most notable public figures in Greece. Formed around her serious social capital: the trust of some citizens, emotional support for the families of the victims and the image of a person who is not included in the usual party system.

Maria Caristianu enters politics: ΝΔ is looking for the possibility of eliminating her

That is why any talk about her possible political movement inevitably causes a nervous reaction. For old party mechanisms this figure is uncomfortable: it does not have a classic party apparatus, but it has recognition, a protest charge and a moral argument associated with the demand for justice in the case Tempi.

Against this background, the statement Nikos Karahalios about supposedly “Moscow’s instructions” looks not just like a sharp political remark, but like an attempt to immediately place a new project in the toxic framework of external influence. It’s old and rather primitive scheme: instead of discussing the program, social base and political goals, the public is asked to search “hand of Moscow”.

But there is a fundamental point here. If you Karahalios there is evidence, he must present it. Then the situation could really become a serious problem for Karystiana And Thanasis Avgerinos. If there is no evidence, the prosecution should not attack them, but the author of the statement himself. In this case, we are not talking about political exposure, but about stuffing designed to attract noise and suspicion.

Attack on Avgerinos Also doesn’t look random. His many years of work as a correspondent in Russia make him a convenient target for those who want to replace talk of facts with a simple hint: since a person worked in Moscow and reported from Russia, it means that he can be presented as part of someone else’s political game. This is convenient but dangerous logic. It turns journalistic experience into a stigma rather than a professional biographical fact.

However, in real politics, of course, even unsubstantiated accusations can leave a mark. A political label lives not only through facts, but also through repetition. They quote him, discuss him, refute him – and thereby help him gain a foothold in the public sphere. That’s why the lawsuit Karystiana And Avgerinos looks like an attempt to stop this mechanism at an early stage and force the author of the prosecution to leave the zone of hints and enter the zone of evidence.

Now the question is quite simple: either Karahalios will confirm his words with facts, or the whole story will remain an example of how, in the pre-election atmosphere, heavy political accusations used as a tool to discredit. And in this case the problem will no longer be Karystiana and not in Avgerinosbut as a political struggle itself, where instead of arguments they again take out the old sign: “It’s Putin’s fault”.



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