Anti-corruption activists appeal to Greek prime minister for Efimova to be granted asylum

Anti-corruption activists have penned a letter to Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras asking for Maria Efimova, who provided information to slain journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, to be granted asylum in Greece.

Efimova has become widely known in Malta as the source behind the late journalist’s assertions that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s wife Michelle was the ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) of the Panamabased company Egrant Inc. and that money had been moved through Pilatus Bank, Ta’ Xbiex, where Efimova had previously been employed.

She testified as part of a magisterial inquiry into the claims. In addition to this, Malta later issued an international arrest warrant against her for failing to attend court hearings in a case, instituted by Pilatus Bank, alleging that she had misappropriated some €2,000.

Another case was filed against her in which she was alleged to have made false accusations against Superintendent Denis Theuma and Inspectors Jonathan Ferris and Lara Butters.

After leaving Malta, claiming she did not feel safe on the island, Efimova ended up in Greece, handing herself in to authorities there last week. She is now being held in custody while the Greek judicial system decides on whether to accept Malta’s request for extradition or whether to grant her asylum.

The Civil Society Network, Occupy Justice, il-Kenniesa and Awturi gathered in front of the Greek embassy, where they read out an open letter to the country’s prime minister.

Activists highlighted the absurdity of an international arrest warrant being issued by Malta against Efimova over “petty, private disputes.”

The activists also highlighted how the high-profile persecution of an individual served as a warning to others with information to divulge.

“A journalist was murdered, and her source has suffered vilification, exile, considerable financial hardship and now arrest and detention.”

They noted that the “sole owner” of Pilatus Bank, Iranian national Ali Sadr Hasheminejad, who was arrested last week in the US, is facing a 125-year prison sentence on charges of circumventing US sanctions against Tehran, money laundering and fraud.

In the letter, the activists reminded the Greek prime minister that the EU was “not a club of governments,” and that the values of freedom of expression should trump even the possible misappropriation of a paltry €2,000 as alleged by Pilatus Bank. The activists even offered to reimburse the bank for the alleged misappropriation of funds.

They also pointed out fake news stories circulating in Malta and Cyprus which falsely claim that Efimova was involved in the murder of Caruana Galizia and in the poisoning of a Russian double agent and his daughter, the Skiprals, in the UK a week ago.

The activists accused government agents and apologists of circulating these stories.