19 Facts About Akis Tsochatzopoulos

Apostolos-Athanasios "Akis" Tsochatzopoulos was a Greek politician, engineer, and economist.

Akis Tsochatzopoulos served as a minister in several Panhellenic Socialist Movement cabinets between 1981 and 2004 most notably Minister of the Interior three times and the Minister of National Defence during the Andreas Papandreou and Konstantinos Simitis governments respectively.

Akis Tsochatzopoulos was elected to the Hellenic Parliament for the first time in 1981 and remained in seat until 2007.

Akis Tsochatzopoulos was convicted and received a 20-year prison sentence on 7 October 2013.

Akis Tsochatzopoulos was later promoted to Minister for the Presidency of the Government from 1985 until 1987.

Akis Tsochatzopoulos was the Minister of the Interior three times under his government.

Akis Tsochatzopoulos narrowly lost the leadership election to Costas Simitis who subsequently became prime minister.

Akis Tsochatzopoulos was unable to win his re-election to the Hellenic parliament in the 2007 election and subsequently retired from politics in 2009.

In early 2011, following an investigation by a specialized committee of the Hellenic Parliament, evidence emerged that Akis Tsochatzopoulos was involved in the Siemens scandal.

The aim of the investigation into Akis Tsochatzopoulos' assets was to determine whether his tax forms were truthful or if any other irregularities had occurred.

Akis Tsochatzopoulos threatened to go to court over the newspaper's front page, which he considered to be "insulting" and defamatory.

Akis Tsochatzopoulos accused the parliamentary group of acting in line with the opposition and of making wrong moves against him.

The committee suggested that Akis Tsochatzopoulos be criminally charged for attempting to pass off money obtained through illegal means as legitimate.

On 1 July 2011, the committee's suggestion that charges be brought against Akis Tsochatzopoulos was passed in parliament with a majority of 216 of 300 seats.

Akis Tsochatzopoulos was born in Athens, however was raised in Thessaloniki.

Akis Tsochatzopoulos was educated at the Technical University of Munich.

Akis Tsochatzopoulos was both an economist and engineer by profession.

Akis Tsochatzopoulos suffered from multiple health problems and underwent heart surgery.

Akis Tsochatzopoulos died on 27 August 2021 at a hospital in Athens from a heart attack, aged 82.