Key facts
- A European arrest warrant has been issued for former EU Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos.
- The warrant is linked to the Qatargate corruption scandal.
- Avramopoulos is alleged to have received money from a criminal network linked to the NGO Fight Impunity.
- Avramopoulos denies any wrongdoing and stated his involvement with the NGO was declared and approved.
- Qatar and Morocco have denied wrongdoing in relation to the scandal.
A Belgian investigating judge has issued a European arrest warrant for Dimitris Avramopoulos, Greece's former European Commissioner for Migration, in connection with the Qatargate corruption scandal. The case involves allegations that foreign governments, specifically Qatar and Morocco, attempted to influence European Parliament policymaking through bribes and gifts. Investigators seized €1.5 million ($1.6 million) in cash during raids. Avramopoulos, who served as commissioner until 2019 and later joined the honorary committee of the NGO Fight Impunity, denies any wrongdoing. He stated his involvement with the NGO was declared and approved, and that he received €5,000 monthly from February 2021 to February 2022, which he declared and paid taxes on in Greece. Both Qatar and Morocco have denied any wrongdoing.