At the age of 82, Alexandros Giotopoulos, known for leading a deadly far-left militant group in Greece, has been released from prison. His release has angered families of the group’s victims. Giotopoulos, who was serving 17 life sentences, was freed due to his advanced age, according to his lawyer.
The decision follows a ruling in 2003, which identified Giotopoulos as the mastermind of November 17. This group was responsible for a series of violent attacks between 1975 and 2002. Their actions included the assassination of 23 individuals, among them a C.I.A. officer named Richard Welch.
After his release, Giotopoulos was seen in Athens, carrying a shopping bag. He has consistently denied leading the group or participating in its crimes. In a statement to Documento, a newspaper, he questioned the accusations against him, asking for clarification on where and how he supposedly instigated violence.
Greek law allows for the release of prisoners sentenced to multiple, concurrent life terms after roughly 25 years. Giotopoulos had requested release several times. A judicial panel recently agreed, considering his age, health issues, and behavior in prison. His lawyer, Vasiliki Kamilari, revealed that Giotopoulos completed postgraduate studies while incarcerated.
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