It's not "a" bank, it was the (government controlled) Bank of Greece. Varoufakis - as finance minster - had responsibility for that, which arguably makes what he ordered not actually illegal (because the records would have been transferred between two areas under his control within the government).

As all central banks in the Eurozone, the Bank of Greece is not government-controlled, but independant.

That simplifies the actual situation.

Yes - in common with most central banks it is supposed to be independent. However It ... acts as a treasurer and fiscal agent for the Greek government[1] and is partially owned by the Greek government (35%)

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_of_Greece

No, you try to confuse the issue.

The finance Minister of Greece has no authority to order the BoG around re: fiscal policy, nor has he any right to seize its money.

Bank of Greece shareholdings: https://www.nbg.gr/english/the-group/corporate-governance/sh...

That 57% owned by the HFSF? That's the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund[1], the management of which is controlled by the Greek government[2].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenic_Financial_Stability_F...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenic_Financial_Stability_F...

> The finance Minister of Greece has no authority to order the BoG around re: fiscal policy

AFAIK, this is incorrect. The government orders that bank with regard to fiscal actions (that's what the "fiscal agent" role means.) Monetary policy is another thing.

You're right, I confused those two.