Greek MEP Eva Kaili has denied allegations that she is involved in a suspected bribery scandal involving Qatar.
Kaili, who is a socialist and Vice President of the European Parliament, was arrested this week in Belgium following suspicions that she had received bribes from the gulf state in exchange for political influence with the EU.
The MEP has been suspended from her position within her party, the European Parliament, and has had her assets frozen by the Greek state amid the ongoing corruption probe.
MEPs in Strasbourg voted overwhelmingly by 625 to 1 to strip Kaili of her position as vice president of the parliament.
Several others were also arrested on charges of “participation in a criminal organisation, money laundering and corruption.”
Qatar has denied any wrongdoing in an official statement, and Kaili’s lawyer has also rejected the claims.
“[Eva Kaili] declares her innocence and that she has nothing to do with bribery from Qatar,” her lawyer, Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, said on Greek TV this week.
According to Belgian authorities, cash worth around €600,000 has been found at the home of one suspect. A further €150,000 was found at an unnamed MEP’s apartment, and €750,000 was found in a suitcase in a hotel room in Brussels.
It has been alleged that the €150,000 was found at Kaili’s apartment, though her lawyer said he was unaware of the truth of the claims.
“I have no idea if any money was found or how much was found,” he said.
In the aftermath to the arrests, a proposed European Parliament vote to allow visa-free travel to the EU from Qatar has been postponed while investigations continue.
Read Gript’s previous coverage of this story below.
“This is about the credibility of Europe”: European Parliament vice-president arrested on corruption charges and suspicion of bribery.#gripthttps://t.co/BZnfSWtLUn
— gript (@griptmedia) December 12, 2022