Nikos Michaloliakos, the leader of the Greek political party Golden Dawn, has been released from prison after serving less than half of his 13-year sentence. According to state media, the decision for his conditional release was made by a judicial council and was based on health considerations. Michaloliakos had been incarcerated for five years following his 2020 conviction related to numerous violent attacks by his party’s supporters.
This is not the first instance of Michaloliakos receiving a temporary release; he was briefly allowed out in May 2024 but was returned to prison after failing to demonstrate good behavior. His party, Golden Dawn, has been classified as a criminal organization, linked to serious offenses including the murder of an anti-fascist musician and attempted murder of immigrants and political activists. In the 2012 Greek elections, the party gained significant votes by promoting an anti-immigrant and nationalist agenda amidst the country’s financial crisis.
While Golden Dawn officially distanced itself from neo-Nazi accusations, its symbolism and leadership have often been associated with extremist ideologies. Following Michaloliakos’s release, left-wing parties expressed strong disapproval, arguing that the judiciary should not offer leniency given the nature of his and his party’s actions. The New Left party labeled the release as detrimental to democratic values, while the communist party KKE called for the decision to be reversed, stating that the criminal history of Golden Dawn should not be forgotten by society.
This decision raises questions about the legal and social implications of releasing individuals convicted of heinous crimes, particularly in the context of the ongoing discourse surrounding extremism in Greece.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c80gy4k9r10o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss