G. Botas Alleges Orchestrated Attack After Account Freeze

Farmers' unionist Giorgos Botas alleges an "orchestrated attack" following the freezing of his accounts, as he stated in the media. He claims he had not been warned about involvement in a financial crime case.

G. Botas, a member of the coordinating committee at the Malgara blockade, discovered the freeze by chance and was informed by websites about a file with 17 "phantom" plots of land and subsidies of 126,000 euros since 2019. He clarifies that he rents the plots and the non-identification is due to omissions by the owners in the E9 or the land registry.

G. Botas mainly cultivates rice and cotton. He considers the financial damage "irreparable" and requests an audit. He points out that the December payments were made normally after an inspection by OPEKEPE. He expresses surprise as to what else may have passed through OPEKEPE, referring to complaints of millions of abuses.

He remains at the blockades due to institutional problems that threaten the viability of the sector, such as mass imports and high production costs. He considers dialogue with the government premature until there are tangible results.