After years of hearings, judges at an Athens appeals court maintained the original prison sentences for the core leadership of Golden Dawn, which Greek courts have ruled operated as a criminal organization behind the façade of a political party.
Seven former lawmakers found guilty of directing the organization received the following sentences:
- 13 years in prison: Nikos Michaloliakos, Ilias Kasidiaris, Giannis Lagos, Giorgos Germenis, Christos Pappas and Ilias Panagiotaros
- 10 years in prison: Artemis Matthaiopoulos
The court also upheld the life sentence — plus an additional 10 years — imposed on Giorgos Roupakias, the self-confessed perpetrator of the 2013 murder of anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas.
Sentences for Membership in the Organization
For the charge of participating in a criminal organization, the court imposed the following sentences on other former Golden Dawn lawmakers:
- 7 years in prison: Panagiotis Iliopoulos, Nikos Kouzilos
- 6 years in prison: Polyvios Zisimopoulos, Konstantinos Barbarousis
- 5 years in prison: Eleni Zaroulia, Nikos Michos, Efstathios Boukouras, Michalis Arvanitis, Antonis Gregos, Dimitris Koukoutsis and Chrysovalantis Alexopoulos
Sentences in Related Criminal Cases
In the case of the Fyssas murder, accomplices — including Giorgos Patelis and Ioannis Kazantzoglou — were sentenced to prison terms ranging from seven to 10 years.
In a separate case involving an attack on Egyptian fishermen in the Athens port area, Anastasios Pantazis was sentenced to 10 years in prison, while other defendants received sentences of six and seven years.
Court Rejects Most Requests for Leniency
Earlier in the proceedings, the five-judge appeals panel rejected most requests by convicted defendants for mitigating circumstances that could have reduced their prison sentences.
The ruling effectively ended attempts by many of the defendants to secure lighter penalties through the appeals process.
Since the original verdict, several of those convicted had remained out of prison while awaiting the appeals court’s decision on mitigating factors and final sentencing.
Mitigating Circumstances Granted to Five Defendants
In a majority decision, the court recognized the mitigating factor of “good behavior after the act” for five defendants.
Those granted the mitigating circumstance are Antonis Gregos, Aristodimos Daskalakis, Markos Evgenikos, Dimitris Koukoutsis and Maria Thoma.
The recognition of the mitigating factor means the court may impose reduced sentences for the five compared with those handed down in the original trial.
Prosecutor Recommends Maintaining Original Sentences
Shortly after the decision on mitigating factors was announced, the prosecutor recommended that most defendants receive the same sentences imposed in the first trial.
For the five defendants granted the mitigating circumstance, the prosecutor proposed a different approach, recommending lower penalties than those originally imposed.
Legal Battle Over Suspended Sentences
The proceedings have now entered a critical stage, with defense lawyers arguing that their clients should avoid immediate imprisonment.
The judges’ decision on whether to grant suspended sentences will determine whether several convicted defendants — including former Golden Dawn lawmakers — will return to prison.
Many of those convicted have already served part of their original sentences, making the court’s decision crucial in determining whether they will be taken back into custody.
