Greek police arrested on Sunday in Athens for breach of privacy a Greek journalist who published during the weekend the so-called "Lagarde list" with names of some 2,000 Greeks with major deposits in a Swiss bank.

Costas Vaxevanis, editor of a local weekly magazine, is accused of violation of the law on personal data, according to a police statement, for printing what he claims is the list Christine Lagarde, current head of the International Monetary Fund, had given in 2010 to then Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou.

The aim was to use the data which were part of files obtained illegally by a French-Italian former employee at an HSBC branch at Geneva, in tax evasion probes. Despite legal obstacles, authorities in some European countries investigated their nationals mentioned in similar lists and raised revenues.

In Greece, the list was misplaced and "lost" for two years, and resurfaced in early October this autumn, as Greek media were printing stories regarding other lists containing names of politicians allegedly probed for their financial transactions.

Four weeks ago, the Greek parliament opened a probe into the handling of the list and former finance ministers and Greek Financial and Economic Crime Unit (SDOE) officials were called to testify.

The list Vaxevanis published this weekend contains names of heavy-weight former ministers and businessmen. Greek authorities have not confirmed whether or not it is the authentic "Lagarde list", while several persons named issued statements stressing that they never had any bank accounts in foreign banks.

In statements to media after his release, Vaxevanis who is to appear before a magistrate on Monday, said that he is unfairly targeted. He argued that authorities should target instead of him tax dodgers and state officials who do not crack down on tax evasion, a key factor in the acute debt crisis that hit Greece in 2009.

The allegations of tax evasion against the wealthy and the inability of authorities to tackle the phenomenon have increased tension in recession-hit Greece, as the government prepares to pass new harsh austerity and reform measures which have already put a heavy burden on the middle class and low earners.

Greece has pledged to implement a tough stability and reform program in return of vital multi-billion euro bailout loans since 2010 to keep afloat and avert a disorderly default and exit from the euro.

Without further aid from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, the country could financially collapse as early as the coming December.