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© Reuters
Leaders of the far-right Greek party Golden Dawn were found guilty today of leading an organized crime group. Seven former lawmakers, including party leader Nikos Michaloliakos, were convicted of leading a criminal organization, and others were convicted of participating in it.
Clashes broke out in front of the courthouse between more than 15,000 people from across the political spectrum, from communists to the conservative ruling New Democracy, gathered in an anti-Nazi protest. Some of them threw objects at the police, who responded with a water cannon and tear gas.
The case lasted 5 years and during that time it was revealed that the party with neo-fascist ideas and goals has many sympathizers among the police.
In the worst years of the debt crisis, Golden Dawn was the third most popular party. But the 2013 murder of left-wing rapper Pavlos Fizas, 34, by a nationalist sympathizer spilled the beans and followed government action. George Rupakias was convicted of the murder.
The Court of Appeals dealt with 68 defendants today, including 18 former legislators. The court ruled that 4 cases could be merged into one:
– The murder of Pavlos Fizas
– attack on immigrants who work as fishermen
– attacks on left-wing activists
– if Golden Dawn acted as a criminal organization.
At Rupakias’s sentencing, applause and shouts of satisfaction erupted in the hallway in front of the building.
© Reuters
The mother of the murdered Pavlos Fizas during the sentence
Mihaloliakos and 17 former lawmakers could face more than 10 years in prison when sentence is set for each. The others were charged with complicity in crimes ranging from murder to perjury as well as acts of violence seven years ago.
In reality, only 11 of the defendants were present in the courtroom and none of them were members of the Golden Dawn deputies. The others were represented by their defenders.
About 2,000 policemen were stationed in the area for security reasons, and the authorities used helicopters and drones, and some streets were blocked by police buses.
“The war on violence and hatred is ongoing,” George Stergu told the Associated Press that the New Democracy government had begun prosecuting Golden Dawn. “Today, the victims and society seek justice. We are here because there is no place for fascism in our lives,” Fotini, a leader of one of the center-left parties, told Fofi Genima.
© Reuters
The investigation concluded that Golden Dawn had acted as a paramilitary formation, with orders descending in a strict hierarchy from command to local organizations and attack groups. Subsequently, the Prosecutor’s Office refused to accuse some of the suspects due to lack of evidence that they had participated in a criminal group.
To this day, Golden Dawn denies having anything to do with the attacks, describing the process as an “unprecedented conspiracy” against its growing popularity. On Tuesday, the party said: “We expect acquittals that will fuel an even more determined nationalist campaign to take back our country.”
More details are expected later at www.dnevnik.bg.
