Key facts
- A European arrest warrant has been issued for Dimitris Avramopoulos.
- Dimitris Avramopoulos is a former Greek European Commissioner.
- The warrant is connected to the Qatargate corruption scandal.
- A Belgian investigating judge issued the warrant.
- Avramopoulos denies any wrongdoing.
Belgian authorities have issued a European arrest warrant for Dimitris Avramopoulos, a former Greek European Commissioner, as part of the Qatargate corruption probe. The warrant was issued by a Belgian investigating judge. Avramopoulos, who served as a European Commissioner from 2014 to 2019, is implicated in the ongoing investigation into alleged corruption involving Qatar and Morocco. He has publicly denied any wrongdoing in relation to the scandal. The Qatargate investigation centers on allegations that officials accepted bribes to influence European Parliament decisions. The issuance of an arrest warrant signifies a significant escalation in the probe, indicating that Belgian prosecutors believe Avramopoulos may have relevant information or involvement that requires his immediate detention and questioning. The scope of the investigation and the specific allegations against Avramopoulos are not detailed in the initial reports, but his former role as a high-ranking EU official makes this a notable development.