Greek Journalist Kostas Vaxevani after his arrest for exposing alleged tax cheats – Athens – Stathis Kalligeris | Demotix

Index on Censorship and other freedom of expression groups urge the European Union to defend free speech

IFEX signatories are deeply concerned and appalled at the renewed attempts to prosecute Greek editor Kostas Vaxevanis and the wider chilling effects of this effort to silence a journalist acting in the public interest

Vaxevanis was arrested last month, acquitted of breaking data privacy laws on 1 November, and now faces a re-trial, all for having published a leaked list (nicknamed the “Lagarde list”) of over 2,000 names of Greeks allegedly holding bank accounts in Switzerland.

Following our letter sent to the European Union on 5 November, Index and other IFEX members call on the EU — which has in the past been quick to denounce threats to media freedom — to defend free speech and to condemn this unwarranted harassment and prosecution.

Letter on the renewed attempts to imprison Greek journalist Kostas Vaxevanis – 23 November 2012