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On the occasion of the current hunger strike of Dimitris Koufontinas, sentenced to 11 years in prison and 25 years in prison for being a member of the terrorist organization “November 17”, many wonder what the other members have become, how many are still behind bars and who continue with their normal lives as citizens.
At the moment, six members of the “Revolutionary Organization” remain in prison November 17“They don’t necessarily have the best relationships with each other and that’s one of the reasons they’re not on the same wing anymore. But let’s put them in order.
In December 2005, the trial of the members of the organization began in second instance in the Court of Appeal of Athens, composed of five members, which ended after 250 sessions, in mid-May 2007. After a year and a half hearing, the court issued the final decisions for the 18 defendants, which were slightly reduced, but not substantially, in relation to the first instance.
Convictions of members of the terrorist organization
The sentences handed down were:
- Alexandros Giotopoulos: 17 life sentences and 25 years in prison for inciting 17 murders, explosions, robberies and participation in the 17N.
- Dimitris Koufontinas: 11 life sentences and 25 years in prison for participation in 11 murders, explosions, robberies and participation in the 17N.
- Christodoulos Xiros: 6 times life imprisonment and 25 years in prison for participation in 6 murders, explosions, robberies and participation in the organization.
- Savvas Xiros: 5 times life imprisonment and 25 years in prison for participation in 5 murders, robberies, explosions and participation in the organization.
- Vassilis Tzortzatos: 4 times life imprisonment and 25 years in prison for participation in 4 murders, robberies, explosions and participation in the organization.
- Vassilis Xiros: 25 years in prison for simple complicity in murder, participation in robberies, explosion and participation in the organization.
- Iraklis Kostaris: 1 life sentence and 23 years in prison for participation in the murder of Pavlos Bakoyannis, robbery and participation in the organization.
- Thomas Serifis: 8 years in prison for participating in a robbery, innocent of all other acts with the mitigation of sincere repentance.
- Telios coasts: 22 years in prison for participation in murder and robbery, with the mitigation of sincere repentance.
- Karatsolis Coasts: 17 years in prison for participating in the organization, robbery and explosion.
- Dionysis Georgiadis: 8 years in prison for participating in the organization, robbery and explosion.
- Patroclus Tselentis: 25 years in prison for participation in murder and robbery cases with the relief of sincere repentance.
- Sotiris Kondylis: 11 years and 3 months in prison for participation in a robbery and explosion case with the mitigation of sincere regret.
- Nikos Papanastasiou: His criminal proceedings cease due to prescription (in the first instance, he was sentenced to 8 years in prison for participating in the organization).
- Giannis Serifis: Innocent (he had also been acquitted in the first instance, but had been appealed by the prosecutor).
- Angeliki Sotiropoulou: Innocent (he had also been acquitted in the first instance, but had been appealed by the prosecutor).
- Thomas Serifis and Sotiris Kondylis were released from prison since they had served the estimated time of incarceration for submitting a request for release, while two more defendants, Theologos Psaradellis and Anestis Papanastasiou were acquitted in the first instance.
Who are still behind bars?
Alexandros Giotopoulos (who is said to have been a founding member of the organization and its leader on November 17) is still in prison. Dimitris Koufontinas (who was the main perpetrator and was convicted for his participation in 11 murders, explosions and robberies), Vassilis Tzortzatos, Iraklis Kostaris, Savvas Xiros (who was arrested in June 2002 in the port of Piraeus when an explosive device exploded in his hands who tried to place and from there began to unravel the tangle of the organization) and his brother, Christodoulos Xiros. They are all in the Korydallos prison wards, with the exception of Dimitris Koufontinas.
Koufontina’s course until today’s hunger strike
The so-called “Loukas” of the organization, Dimitris Koufontinas, was initially detained in the Korydallos penitentiary.. After 15 years in prison, he began receiving permits in 2017, prompting strong political reactions. In fact, in 2018, his total permits for the year exceeded 18 days, requesting the use of the law that had been enacted by the Minister of Justice, Nikos Paraskevopoulos.
This possibility, which was totally legal, was described as unacceptable by many media and politicians inside and outside the country, who did not agree with the fact that a prisoner serving such a severe sentence could leave. In fact, in 2017, the Bakoyannis family, on the occasion of their anniversary of the murder of Pavlos Bakoyannis (in 1989) by Koufontinas, he openly accused both the Justice and the then SYRIZA government of special treatment for a prisoner.
“Instead of healing the wounds, we deepen them”
The later mayor of Athens, Costas Bakogiannis, wrote on Facebook at the time that “the serial killer is given permission to enjoy the freedom and life that he deprived of all those he killed and those left behind.” For years he decided who would live and who would die. He never regretted it, never showed a trace of remorse. Otherwise. He continues to spit democracy in the face and does what he can to make successors, spreading poison and spreading his crimes. And that is why today the state rewards it, with the government at best indifferent and tolerant and at worst providing its blessings. But instead of closing the wounds, we open them. Instead of healing wounds, we deepen them. Darkness”.
However, SYRIZA and KKE government officials supported Dimitris Koufontinas’ right, while anti-authoritarian organizations also declared their support at the time through demonstrations.
In May 2019, just days after the first subversive decision not to grant Koufontinas a new permit for “total absence and fully aware of any remorse”, the Supreme Court overturned the decision. In a climate of intense political and social controversy, the standard prison leave was normally granted after intervention by the prosecutor.
From Kassavetia to Domokos
Then, in August 2018, Koufontinas was transferred from Korydallos to the Kassavetia agricultural prison in Volos and last December to the Domokou prison. The transfer of a convicted prisoner is part of the implementation of the new legal framework, which introduces the abolition of the right to transfer those convicted of terrorism to the country’s rural prisons. The same protester went on a hunger strike on January 8 and is currently being treated in a special detention center, a cell, at Lamia hospital.
Giotopoulos request for the use of computers
The 76-year-old alleged leader of the terrorist organization Alexandros Giotopoulos it has not caused problems during its inclusion. He was initially detained in Korydallos, in January 2015 he was transferred to Domokou Prison (together with Koufontinas and Vassilis Tzortzatos) and has now returned to Korydallos wing 5. Several years ago he had submitted a request to be able to use a computer in the penitentiary for educational purposes with the prison address rejected, however he himself appealed to the Ombudsman and in March 2010 he was acquitted.
However, from time to time he continues to denounce the conditions of his detention, while recently he again submitted a request for release that was rejected. In the past, he had fights with Dimitris Koufontinas and they did not speak. But now they are in different jails anyway.
Terrorists who don’t create trouble in Korydallos
They also reportedly caused no problems during their incarceration. Dry savvas (located in a specially designed area of the Korydallos Women’s Prison), neither Vassilis Tzortzatos nor Iraklis Kostaris. In fact, the last two toil daily with the preparation of bread in the Central Warehouse of the Prison (to reduce their sentence). Both also receive the required permits, either to see their family or for educational purposes.
Mobile phones in Christodoulos Xiros’ cell
However, Christodoulos Xiros has created disciplinary problems, since during the surprise controls they have been identified four times. on their cell phones. When asked by the management of Korydallos Prison how they were supplied, his response was that the devices were handed over to him by the prison officials. It is also said that he had clashes with anti-authoritarians and a prisoner in nearby cells.
Who have been released?
As for the released prisoners, Iraklis Kostaris now breathes “fresh air” as he worked for a long time in the prison furnaces to reduce his sentence, while also receiving the five-day leave to visit his family or for purposes educational.
THE Vassilis Xiros (the third of the brothers who participated in the terrorist organization) has been free since July 2011, having served 3/5 of his sentence in the Kassandra Agricultural Prison, Halkidiki. Today he is dedicated to raising animals and makes sure to go unnoticed.
THE Karatsolis Coasts He was released in 2010 and lives a quiet family life in Athens, working as a gardener.
THE Nikos Papanastasiou He works as a potter in a suburb of Athens and has become a father for the second time, having a son from his first marriage.
THE Theologian Psaradellis She is now 79 years old and lives in Evia, with information indicating that she has health problems.
THE Thomas Serifis He was released in the summer of 2007 and since then, leaving his illegal past behind, he started a family and lives in Athens.
THE Patroclus Tselentis He had been employed for a long time in the Korydallos prison bakery in order to be released faster and after his release he leads a quiet life in a coastal township of Attica.
THE Pavlos Serifis He is now retired and reportedly in poor health.
For your part, oh Dionysis Georgiadis He was released at the end of 2006 and lives in Thessaloniki working for a family business.
THE Sotiris Kondylis He works as a private employee and lives with his family in a suburb of Athens.
Finally, the Telios coasts it had an evolution different from all the others. The North Greek teacher had initially surrendered alone to the authorities, declaring regret. He was imprisoned and released for serious health problems in December 2003, at the time of the November 17 trial in the Court of Appeals. While he was away, he married a foreign language teacher and had a daughter. In May 2007 he returned to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence and in 2012 he was finally released.
