Christos Mavrikis: The ‘National Cuckoo’ of the ’89 Scandal, Telephone Taps, and Bribery Attempt

Christos Mavrikis, one of the darkest and most controversial figures of Greece’s post-dictatorship era, was arrested for attempting to bribe a judge. He is remembered as the man at the center of the surveillance scandal involving political figures in the late ’80s, most notably the tapping of then-Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou’s phone. Now, his name has resurfaced due to allegations that he sought intervention in a pending civil case with the promise of a substantial financial reward. The complaint from the Areopagite, along with the letter, was forwarded to the Athens Primary Prosecutor’s Office for criminal investigation. The prosecutor ordered an urgent preliminary investigation into the crime of attempted judicial bribery. According to the complaint, Mavrikis visited the office of the senior judicial official and handed over a letter asking for positive resolution of a case concerning land disputes in Attica, promising a million euros if successful. In 1989, during the tumultuous period known as the ‘bromic ’89,’ Mavrikis was accused of leading a network of illegal wiretaps on politicians, journalists, and businesspeople. His actions shocked public opinion and fueled rapid political changes during a time when the justice system was trying to unravel scandals like Koskotas and the Bank of Crete. Despite withdrawing from public life, Mavrikis remains a symbol of the shadowy backstage of Greek politics in one of its most turbulent periods.