Pythia-1: The assassination operation of former Greek PM for approaching Russia

The Russian state news channel Russia-24 came with an updated report that sheds more light in a peculiar case that shaken Greece right before the financial crisis hit the country. Connecting the dots through additional information allegedly coming from the Russian intelligence, the report supports a scenario that could have been taken from CIA textbooks. According to this, there was a well-organized operation against former Greek PM, Kostas Karamanlis, aiming his political extermination and even assassination, once he had 'dangerously' approached Russia. While assassination plans didn't succeed, Karamanlis lost the elections of 2009 midst social, political and financial instability allegedly reinforced by this operation.

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The story begins in 2008, or even before this year. The then Greek PM, Kostas Karamanlis starts facing difficulties with the Greek economy. In his foreign policy he tries to get closer to Russia in several key directions, from increasing trade volumes to purchasing arms.

Karamanlis called Vladimir Putin his friend and Moscow was his strategic partner. He supported Greece's participation in the Burgas–Alexandroupoli pipeline and the South Stream. This was a gas pipeline to deliver Russian oil and gas to South and Central Europe. Agreements between the governments were signed.

Kostas Karamanlis couldn't have known that because of these meetings and negotiations, not deals, certain forces in Greece and beyond would start an intricate plan to disrupt the projects. From the standard destabilization of the country to the change of the political course. This became famous from numerous Greek press articles.

If we are to believe what has been published, the plan was called Pythia-1. This plan was to be executed by foreign agents deployed in Greece. Nobody knows which countries are behind them, but it's a known fact that they had allies among the Greeks. These include the Army, authorities and deputies. This was a well-prepared, well-organized group, which has been following the Greek leader. It seems that they were preparing his assassination.

The Greek National Intelligence Service received a tip from the Russian FSB. Based on this data, a secret document was created. The media material state that the Russian special services got interest in this story after certain foreign agents' attempts to tap the phones of Kostas Karamanlis, Georgi Parvanov - the former Bulgarian president - and Vladimir Putin.

In these conversations they spoke about gas pipelines, oil and gas supplies. In the West, some really didn't want to see project like Burgas–Alexandroupoli and South Stream become a reality. It's hard to believe, but putting an entire country into chaos is still a great option.

Eventually, the intruders didn't manage to assassinate Karamanlis, but they kept a close eye on him. In that top-secret document an episode is described where Russian spies met with the conspirators face-to-face. It supposedly happened in April 2008, around Nea Makri, Attica. The attention of PM guards and Russian spies was caught by a strange minivan. People inside it left after the incident on a moped without licence plates. Inside the minivan they found an arsenal, including explosives, Kalashnikov rifles, communication tools, night vision equipment, detailed maps with the PM's itinerary, and detailed information of his bodyguards.

Weapons and maps were taken as evidence. The Attorney General's office began an investigation and after several years the case made it to court. All conspiracy members' names are kept in secret. All in the investigation's interests.

We only know a few names:

William Basil, a former CIA agent. He lived and worked in Greece since the mid 90s. He is considered the best in monitoring and phone-tapping. A warrant for his arrest was issued in 2015, but Basil had time to run. It's a known fact that tapping Karamanlis was done from the phones he personally bought. He also used SIM cards registered in Athens under US Embassy.

Former Greek parliamentary, Michalis Karhimakis is accused of treason and divulging of state secrets. He was in PASOK party and ally of George Papandreou.

Among other accused parties are two former Greek special services agents. They are also accused of treason and divulging of state secrets.

Considering the leaked data from the intel. services to the press, which mentioned about 20 political figures, we know that these four people are just the tip of the iceberg.

Karamanlis is alive, but he had to retire. He lost the snap elections in October 2009. Eventually, Greece slowly exited the Burgas–Alexandroupoli pipeline and the South Stream. Also, Greece decided not to buy Russian military equipment.

Note that Kostas Karamanlis was defeated by George Papandreou in 2009 elections, right before the eruption of the financial crisis. Papandreou is considered responsible for bringing IMF in Greece with the subsequent devastating effects in the Greek economy due to its brutal neoliberal policies.