Greece’s Association of Judges and Prosecutors has expressed strong concern over a recent statement by the US State Department criticizing a court decision to release convicted prisoner Alexandros Giotopoulos.
In its statement, the US State Department said it was “deeply disappointed” by the decision of the Piraeus Court of Appeals and urged the Greek government to do “everything possible” to return Giotopoulos to prison.
The judges’ association described the remarks as a rare example of a foreign ministry openly attempting to intervene in the judicial affairs of another country.
Concerns Over Judicial Independence
In a public response, the association stressed that decisions regarding the conditional release of prisoners fall exclusively within the jurisdiction of the judiciary, regardless of the crimes for which an individual has been convicted.
The statement argued that the principle of separation of powers is fundamental to Greece’s democratic system and that judicial decisions cannot be overturned by the government.
“We do not know whether it has become common practice in the United States for governments to overturn court decisions,” the association said, adding that in Greece, the assessment of parole conditions is solely the responsibility of the courts.
Call for Political Support
The Association of Judges and Prosecutors formally protested what it described as an unfortunate statement and called on the country’s political leadership to support and defend the judicial system.
The dispute centers on the release of Giotopoulos, a case that has drawn international attention and prompted the unusual public intervention from the US State Department.
