Greek singer Yiannis Ploutarhos has vehemently denied claims that he is a supporter of the ultra-right wing party Golden Dawn in Greece.
“Some people were quick to judge me and make me a Golden Dawn supporter. They made a big mistake and it was wrong. Very wrong,” Ploutarhos told Neos Kosmos in an exclusive interview this week.
In a quick visit to Australia to open the new Agapi Care facility in Clayton South – of which he is a major sponsor and supporter – Ploutarhos said he was distressed by recent reports in Greece connecting him to the neo-Nazi party, but also by leaving his wife and young family at home in Greece.
And, at the same time Ploutarhos was on the plane travelling to Australia, media in Greece were reporting on tax fraud by the singer following an audit by the taxation department that claimed during 2005-2011 the popular singer had not filed tax documents for the total of 1,985,000 euros of income.
Shortly after he officially opened the new facility of Agapi Care, Ploutarhos was keen to clear his name and clarify his position regarding Golden Dawn and also the allegations of tax evasion.
Allegations surrounding his involvement with Golden Dawn perpetuated after he made innocent comments to the Greek media that he says were misconstrued. The reports said that Ploutarhos “approved the rise of Golden Dawn as it was one of the limited political alternatives that Greeks had in the hope of stopping Greece sliding deeper in the economic crisis”.
The singer accused the Greek media of distorting his words by isolating statements in order to give the impression that the singer approves of the far-right party.
“I had not been identified with Golden Dawn. I was asked what I thought and I replied on the way in which society sees this party. I am not a politician and I did not make political statements. I replied and said that people are disoriented, and because of the frustration they feel about the political system currently in Greece, are taking to extremes, either left or right. Some people were so quick to judge me and make me Golden Dawn supporter,” he explained.
There was a certain degree of disappointment in the tone of his voice when he started to recount all the different aspects of his life story and principles, facts which he said leave no room for anyone to even think that he is a Golden Dawn supporter or that he approves of the ideologies of the political party, which has recently been in the public eye for its violent and criminal acts.
“In principle I am a quiet man,” he starts, “secondly, I love and respect every human being, whatever nationality they are.
“Thirdly, here I am, a man who offers to the community with all my heart, a man who while having to face slander, never talked badly about anyone in public. My family values don’t lend themselves to being or ever becoming a Golden Dawn supporter.
The comments he said – that were reported in Greek media – were made by him to echo how the everyday Greek was feeling, especially faced with the economic crisis, and not as an endorsement of Golden Dawn.
He added that he fully supported the recent developments in Greece and the work that the justice system is doing in order to eliminate and punish the alleged criminal activities of Golden Dawn, saying “I have full faith in the Greek justice system and Greeks should not be divided but unified when it comes to putting those responsible for criminal behaviour behind bars”.
Ploutarhos did not shy away from answering questions relating to recent reports for tax evasion amounting to about 2 million euros.
“Frankly, I do not know what happened there,” said Ploutarhos, adding that he learned the details and had already started legal action against the media.
“The only thing I can do at the current time is to launch legal proceedings. Once again I was unfairly targeted and judged in the public eye before the state convicted me. I did not receive anything from the tax man. I cannot justify nor understand these allegations,” he said.
He was keen to express his indignation over the “defamatory reports” – as he called them.
“I am a public figure and I know that and the state has to do its job, and they are more than welcome to search for every euro of my income.
“I understand that they are trying to make an example of us but I am again unfairly targeted by the media. Some journalists make a story out of thin air. What upsets me is that they do not hesitate to sacrifice anyone’s reputation in the process.”
Ploutarhos returned to Greece on Thursday.
