The atmosphere has grown tense for Thanos Dokos, Greece’s Secretary-General for National Security, following a major security lapse: a 7.5-minute phone call he held with Russian pranksters—mistaking them for Ukraine’s national security counterpart. Dokos later claimed the call was intercepted using advanced AI systems. However, the pranksters themselves debunked that explanation during an interview on Mega TV’s Exelixis Tora with journalist Natasa Giampali.
What Really Happened?
First, they clarified they did not launch a ‘hybrid’ cyberattack—just sent a simple Gmail email requesting the call. Second, no AI was involved; they appeared live on Zoom, wearing makeup to impersonate Ukrainian officials. Third, the Zoom connection was established while Dokos was reportedly in a café or restaurant—meaning bystanders like customers and waitstaff could have overheard sensitive national security discussions. Fourth, Greece’s official response came only three days after the call’s recording went public—a delay raising serious questions about internal protocols and crisis management.
Broader Implications
Experts say verifying these details would be straightforward—and suggest Greek authorities likely conducted an internal review, explaining the government’s initial reluctance to publicly distance itself from Dokos. Yet even if AI had been used, the core issue remains alarming: why would a senior national security advisor discuss domestic election matters with a foreign official posing as a peer? Why wasn’t Dokos briefed—or even asked—about the director of Greece’s National Intelligence Service (EYP) being in Kyiv at the time? And what standards govern secure communications across all levels of Greece’s security apparatus?
This incident comes at a delicate moment—just before the NATO summit in Turkey—amplifying concerns among diplomats and military officials alike. The opposition has united in demanding Dokos’s resignation, including former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, who weighed in via X (formerly Twitter).
Samara’s TikTok Strategy
Meanwhile, Samaras is quietly building his political comeback—not through formal announcements, but by stepping into TikTok. He hasn’t revealed when or under what banner he’ll launch a new party, but he’s intensifying his digital presence. Working closely with communications strategist Nikos Tsiochtias, Samaras is adopting a relaxed, youth-oriented tone: filmed in a white shirt without jacket or tie, speaking directly to younger audiences. In his first two TikTok videos, he poses rhetorical questions like “Is it my fault?”—a subtle nod to accountability amid national political turbulence.