The Greek Novartis scandal - whistleblowers, legal retaliation and the erosion of the rule of law

by Nikos Passas

The Novartis bribery scandal, initiated in 2016, centered on allegations that the Swiss pharmaceutical company engaged in corrupt practices with politicians and doctors in Greece between 2006 and 2015. Protected witnesses, operating under pseudonyms, accused 10 prominent political figures, including former prime ministers and ministers, of accepting bribes to favour Novartis products. These testimonies led to significant political upheaval and a protracted legal investigation. ¹ This started with investigations pursued by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission, resulting in a 2020 settlement in which Novartis AG and its Greek subsidiary agreed to pay over US$345 million to resolve charges under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. ² This stands in contrast to the case in Greece, where no Novartis-connected defendants were convicted, but instead, authorities have gone after the special prosecutor, the media and the whistleblowers.