The French Secretary of State for Development, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, targeted by complaints of rape, dismissed the accusations on Friday, deeming them “unacceptable and revolting”. “The serious accusations against me, relating to medical clinical examinations carried out in order to diagnose and treat the illness of my patients, are unacceptable and revolting,” she said in a statement sent by her lawyer. Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, a 46-year-old gynecologist, is the subject of two complaints for rape and a third complaint for violence without incapacity for work by a person responsible for a public service mission.
Saying that she learned of the existence of these complaints through “the press”, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou still says she is “shocked and deeply hurt” and claims to have “never imposed the slightest examination on any of my patients without their consent”. “I have no knowledge of the content of these complaints, of which I emphasize that they were filed in the days following my appointment to the government and which relate to consultations which would have taken place several years ago”, underlines t- she again according to the statement.
Third complaint filed Thursday
The Paris prosecutor’s office opened an investigation on May 27 after the filing of two rape complaints against Chrysoula Zacharopoulou. According to the weekly Marianne, who revealed the case, the alleged acts were allegedly committed in the context of his profession as a gynecologist. The investigation was entrusted to the Brigade for the repression of delinquency against the person (BRDP). A third complaint for violence was filed Thursday, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office, requested Friday by AFP.
The Daily program of the TMC channel collected the testimony of this patient, who says she suffered “gynecological violence” during an appointment in 2018 with Chrysoula Zacharopoulou to treat her endometriosis.
“Justice will do its job”
Elected MEP in 2019, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, was appointed Secretary of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships last month in the government of Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne.
The latter had assured Thursday evening, on the LCI channel, “that the complaints are filed, justice will do its job”, describing as “important debate” that “of consent when we do examinations”.