Marafatsos accompanied Guilfoyle to high-level meetings, including a session in Sofia with Bulgarian President Iliana Yotova, while his firm secured multiple regional agreements.
Ambassador’s Energy Push and Lobbyist Presence
Kimberly Guilfoyle, serving as the US ambassador to Greece since the autumn before, has actively promoted American liquefied natural gas exports through the vertical gas corridor. During a trip to Bulgaria, Guilfoyle urged local officials to work with Aktor, a firm expanding into the gas sector in partnership with the Greek state-owned company DEPA. Christos Marafatsos, a 39-year-old businessman, joined Guilfoyle at these diplomatic engagements despite holding no official government post.
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Lobbying Contracts and Financial Figures
Marafatsos expanded his lobbying portfolio after his initial registration for Aktor. Within nine months, his total lobbying revenue surpassed expectations after he added three other Greece-linked companies to his client roster. Government representatives who met with Guilfoyle and Marafatsos noted that he often did not disclose his affiliation with Aktor during official discussions.
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Marafatsos Lobbying Revenue (9 Months) | 440,000 dollars |
| Aktor-Specific Payments (Through June) | 160,000 dollars |
| Proposed Deal Size in Albania | 6 billion dollars |
Diplomatic and Legal Rebuttals
The US embassy in Athens defended Guilfoyle’s actions, stating her travel aimed to advance American interests by increasing US LNG sales and reducing European reliance on Russian energy. The embassy maintained that she followed all State Department guidelines. Robin Brooks, a former US diplomat with 21 years of service in the Foreign Service, called it absolutely problematic for an American ambassador to promote a foreign company’s interests. Guilfoyle’s attorney also denied that she favored Aktor exclusively, noting she works with companies across the energy sector and that official meetings were arranged through the embassy rather than Marafatsos.
Regional Business Expansion for Aktor
Aktor and its joint venture with DEPA, Atlantic-SEE LNG, secured numerous agreements and memoranda of understanding across Bulgaria, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Romania. Guilfoyle also aided in negotiating a proposed deal in Albania. However, the Ukrainian state gas company stated that talks regarding future purchases from Atlantic-SEE LNG had ended.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Christos Marafatsos?
Christos Marafatsos is a 39-year-old businessman and registered lobbyist who previously led Greek Voices for Trump during the 2016 campaign and has accompanied US Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle on European diplomatic trips.
What is Aktor Group?
Aktor Group is a Greek construction company that has recently entered the natural gas sector and formed a joint venture called Atlantic-SEE LNG with the Greek state-owned company DEPA.
What did the US Embassy say about the allegations?
The US embassy rejected claims of wrongdoing, stating that Ambassador Guilfoyle’s visits focused on advancing American energy security and increasing US LNG exports in compliance with State Department directives.
Did Ukrainian authorities complete deals with Aktor’s joint venture?
No. While Aktor secured agreements in several regional nations, the Ukrainian state gas company confirmed that negotiations for purchases from Atlantic-SEE LNG were terminated.
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