Giotopoulos was released by decision of the Court of Appeals. He had been sentenced to 17 life terms and 25 years in prison as the leader of the 17 November.

It is recalled that Alexandros Giotopoulos was arrested in the summer of 2002 on the island of Lipsi, and from the first moment until the last he denied any involvement with 17 November.

The Misdemeanor Council rejected the request, but the Court of Appeals accepted it despite the opposing opinion of the Appeals Prosecutor.

The Court of Appeals imposed conditions in his case: he must not leave the country, must report once a month to the local police station, and must maintain a permanent residence.

Alexandros Giotopoulos had been receiving regular prison leave since 2022, under conditions which he complied with. His latest release application was the fifth in total and was submitted on October 23, 2025.

Among the members of 17 November still in prison are the chief hitman Dimitris Koufontinas and the brothers Savvas Xiros and Christodoulos Xiros.