An Athens appellate court on Wednesday upheld 2020 convictions of far-right party Golden Dawn’s leadership and senior members, confirming the party’s designation as a criminal organization.
Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias welcomed the decision and described it as “a historical milestone for the Greek justice system and the rule of law.”
Golden Dawn, founded by Nikos Michaloliakos in the 1980s, rose to prominence during Greece’s financial crisis, winning 21 seats in the 2012 parliamentary elections. However, the organization’s leadership was involved in unlawful activities, including the murder of anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas, violent attacks on migrants and political opponents, and illegal weapon possession. The party used the slogan “Blood, honor, Golden Dawn!” which is adapted from the Nazi Hitler Youth organization slogan “Blood and honor.”
During appeal, which began in 2022, prosecutors urged the court to maintain the guilty verdict. “Nazi ideology is the motivation for the criminal action that is carried out against political dissidents and immigrants,” prosecutor Kyriaki Steganatou stated.
The 2020 ruling saw a Greek trial court convict 68 party members, and the verdict was widely welcomed by rights groups and political leaders, including then-president Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Amnesty International’s Europe director.
Following the conviction, Greek Parliament passed legislation prohibiting ex-convicts from holding leadership positions in political parties. The law affected Illias Kasidiaris, a former Golden Dawn spokesman, sentenced to 13 years in prison on charges of running a criminal organization, weapon trafficking, extortion and murder. Kasidiaris attempted to participate in the 2023 election through a new party, “Hellenes.” However, the Greek Supreme Court blocked the party from the May 2023 election, holding that its activities did not serve the free functioning of a democratic constitution.