Assailants plan murder against former Greek PM over relations with Russia

A Greek investigation has studied the case of assailants suspected in assassinating former Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis to prevent him from improving ties between Russia and Greece in the energy sector, RBC reports.

Greek police say that Russian intelligence services handed documents on plans of unidentified assailants to kill Karamanlis.

Investigators questioned Greek intelligence officers, security officers of Karamanlis and local police. They need to find the organizer of the plot. Investigation says that the assassination attempt was aimed at ending construction of the South Stream Gas Pipeline, due to be completed by 2015. One of the lines will run through Greece to Italy.

Karamanlis was the Greek Prime Minister for two terms in 2004-2009. His New Democracy Party lost the early polls he initiated in 2009. Karamanlis signed the deal on construction of the South Stream with Russia. The document was signed by former Russian Minister for Industry and Energy Victor Christenko and former Greek Minister for Development Christos Folias.