Pilatus whistleblower likely to receive asylum in Greece - media

The Pilatus Bank whistleblower, who fled Malta claiming she feared for her life, is likely to receive asylum in Greece, according to a Cypriot news website. Maria Efimova was at the heart of a political storm last year when she was identified by Daphne Caruana Galizia as a source into claims that the prime minister's wife had a secret company in Panama where she received funds from Azerbaijan. Strongly denying the claims, Joseph and Michelle Muscat resorted to court action. Ms Efimova, a Russian national whose husband is Cypriot, surrendered to Greek authorities on Monday. She is wanted in Malta to face fraud charges after a complaint by Pilatus Bank. The arrest warrant was issued after she failed to attend court hearings into a criminal complaint filed by Pilatus Bank. The Cyprus Business Mail quoted an MEP saying the matter is on the desk of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. A group of MEPs from different political groups, including Cypriot MEP Takis Hadjigeorgiou, and Portugal’s Ana Gomes, called on Greek authorities on Thursday to protect ms Efimova and grant her asylum. A source in the Cypriot police said that Efimova was likely to receive asylum from Greece, the...