Focus shifts to Savvidis after Kalogritsas gives up TV license

Following the announcement by Yiannis Kalogritsas, one of four businessmen who won nationwide television licenses in a recent auction, that he was withdrawing from the competition, attention shifted on Monday to the first runner-up in the competition, Russian-Greek entrepreneur Ivan Savvidis.

Kalogritsas pulled out after a request by his company for extra time to submit the first tranche of the fee was rejected by the government and he said he was withdrawing, citing "corrupt circles" that had accused him of tax evasion and other offenses.

Shortly after Kalogritsas's statement, Savvidis said he would be able to pay the amount required to clinch the fourth licenses within a couple of days.

Subsequently, government sources indicated that, according to the competition rules, the businessman's declaration of assets (pothen esches) would be subject to inspection within the next five days while the first payment must be made within 15 days.