On the third-year anniversary of neo-Nazi Golden Dawn’s entry to Greek Parliament in May 2012, members of the organization are standing trial for operating a criminal organization. The 69 defendants include the party’s leader Nikos Michaloliakos and 12 more party MPs. The trial began on April 20 at a makeshift court at high-security Korydallos prison but was adjourned due to technical problems.
The trial resumed shortly after 9 a.m. on Thursday morning following the 17-day adjournment. The three-membered Appellate Court met for the second day at the female section of the prison before deciding to adjourn again for the second time with the new date set to May 12.
The only Golden Dawn deputies present are Dimitris Koukoutsis and Michael Arvanitis as well as former deputy Stathis Boukouras. Observing the proceedings are other defendants, including George Roupakias, the murderer of leftist rapper Pavlos Fyssas. Michaloliakos and other frontline GD members such as Ilias Kasidiaris were absent from the courtroom.
The parents of Fyssas are also attending the trial. Politicians Liana Kanelli (Greek Communist Party KKE) and Maria Kanellopoulou (Radical Left Coalition SYRIZA) are also present.
At the opening, Ioannis-Vasilio Komianos, one of the accused, said that his counsel resigned and sought for a new lawyer to be appointed to him. This would lead to more delays and adjournments.
The judges are currently meeting to discuss the request.
Outside the trial, the area around Korydallos prison has become a gathering spot for anti-state activists and Golden Dawn members, with clashes noted early in the morning. Anti-fascist groups claim that Golden Dawn members attacked a foreigner on Amorgo Street, who retreated from their clutches, bleeding, while trying to save himself. The police could not confirm this.
At 8.30 a.m. the police received a deposition from a citizen in the area stating that anti-state activists had attacked him, believing that he was a member of the Golden Dawn party. The incident took place at a park near the prison, and police used chemicals to disperse the crowd that had gathered there. The citizen in question was taken to the hospital though there were no signs of serious injury.
Legal counsel for the Golden Dawn members are calling for the trial to be held at another courtroom that is easily accessible to witnesses, the public and the media. Korydallos residents are also concerned about the impact of the trial on their neighborhood, especially during the university entrance exams at nearby schools in the area.
Judge Maria Lepenioti, who heads the case, transfered discussion on the suitability of the courtroom to Thursday, the second day of trial.
