Live Blogging: Greece’s Golden Dawn Leader Michaloliakos, several MPs arrested
Posted by keeptalkinggreece in Politics
The operation started in the early morning hours of Saturday with the arrest of Michaloliakos, the arrest of Kasidiaris followed. Operation is continuing.
The recent investigation against the extreme-right party has reportedly found “solid evidence for the establishment of a criminal organization”, which is a felony.
In case of a felony the parliamentary immunity of MPs is automatically lifted and there is not reason for a voting in the Parliament.
11:02 am
Arrested so far :
Nikos Michaloliakos GD general secretary (leader)
Ilias kasidiaris GD spokesman
MP Giannis Lagos
MPs Ilias Panagiotaros, Giorgos Germenis surrender to police headquarters and were arrested.
Head of GD Nikaia branch Giorgos Patelis (the area where leftist rapper Pavlos Fyssas was stabbed to death on September 17, 2013.
11:09 am
GD website called its supporters to react in solidarity with the members’ arrest.
GD website was apparently down some minutes ago.
Unconfirmed information claims that GD members are heading to Greek police headquarters (GADA) in Alexandras Avenue (Ambelokipoi district of Athens) to express solidarity.
11:20 am
So far there have been 14 arrests (MPs and other GD members).
Authorities still seek MPs Pappas and Michos.
Golden Dawn has 18 MPs in the Parliament.
There is information that two active policemen are among the GD arrested members.
11:25 am
The charges as of prosecutor of Greece’s Supreme Court:
establishment of criminal organization
still to be investigated:
- whether the GD leadership and MPs were involved in the murder of Pavlos Fyssas.
- money laundering
Supreme Court prosecutor has reportedly collected “incriminating information and evidence” from phone calls, testimonies and through the surveillance bugs of Greece’s Intelligence Service EYP.
11:30 am
On Friday morning the department director in charge of Golden Dawn surveillance within the EYP was suspended from his duty.
It was found out that he was a cousin of a GD MP. He was assigned to this post a year ago. (Golden Dawn entered the Parliament with June 2012 elections)
The man, whose name was not published, was allegedly also involved in the operation of “abduction” of several Pakistani men in 2005 in connection with terror attacks in London.
The state never admitted there was such incident.
12:03 am
Some 300 Golden Dawn members outside police headquarters chanting slogans.
12: 07
fugitive GD MP Christos Pappas on Real FM: ” I move freely. I did not see anyone. The occupation government makes unprecedented criminal charges against deputies and time will come where it will have to answer in front of the people . This government is a criminal organization that in cooperation with the troika destroys the homeland. Antonis Samaras is trying to plunge the country into chaos and civil war . This will not happen . ”
12:39
so far arrested: 4 GD MPs, GD leader Michaloliakos, 9 GD members from Nikaia branch
13:10
17 arrested so far. All accused of involvement in a criminal organization. Still on the run MPs Pappas and Michos.
A growing number of GD members have gathered outside the police HQ in solidarity with the arrested after several Golden Dawn websites called them to do so.
13:15
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is due to leave Athens for USA today. Not clear if he will make a statement on the Golden Dawn crack down.
13:20
The arrest of GD leader Nikos Michaloliakos occurred at 6:30 am at his home.
The arrest was followed by an extensive home research by the counter-terrorism department.
Media report that three pistols were allegedly found in the home of GD leader, with Michaloliakos being unable to justify whether he was in legitimate possession of the pistols and when he got them from.
13:30
Investigation Findings
Offenses against Golden Dawn members, according to the 9-page findings of Supreme Court prosecutor:
- establishment of criminal organization
- money laundering
- bribery
The 9-page findings report refers back to the course of a criminal organization consisting of members of Golden Dawn.
Testimonies and lifting the telephone privacy apparently give solid evidence for the offenses.
“Chief of the organization is Nikos Michaloliakos, Christos Pappas is deputy chief,” says the findings report.
GD members apparently refered to Michaloliakos with “Führer Prinzip” ( “Führer” German attribute to Hitler; “Führer Prinzip” English “Leader principle” according to which the whole organization has only one leader).
MPs Kasidiaris and Lagos belonged to the “hard core” of the organization.
Strong evidence is being reportedly given by the phone surveillance of GD politicians and members who allegedly spoke on the phone of specific facts, persons, things and situations.
There are apparently also other people – not GD members- involved in the organization.
Private Skai TV reported of “upcoming arrests of businessmen who supported Golden Dawn with money.”
Yesterday, Greek media had claimed that “businessmen who were supporting GD with money were members of the entertainment sector.”
13:42
Leaving his office to head to the Athens airport, Prime minister Antonis Samaras did not make any statement but briefly told reporters “Justice, stabilization, no elections.” (Skai TV)
13:44
Skai TV reported that the lawyer of Fyssas’ murderer visited police headquarters in order to speak with one of the arrested. Not clear if the lawyer of Giorgos Roupakias will speak with someone from GD leadership or Nikaia branch members.
When Roupakias was arrested immediately after stabbing Fyssas to death, Greek media reported that local GD officials pretended they had nothing to do with him and that Roupakias was just simple member.
14:02
Media report that Roupakias’s lawyer will defend arrested MP Panagiotaros.
14:13
Police seized in Nikos Michaloliakos home:
1 pistol, 1 revolver, q hunting rifle without license
a big number of bullets and cartridges
43,100 euro in cash
Personal Computers, USBs.
15:00
MPs arrests: Parliamentary issues, elections
Arrested Members of the Parliament are not automatically deprived of their parliamentary mandate, even if are charged with felony offenses.
According to the definition given by Parliament statute and the Constitution, the MPs of Golden Dawn retain his parliamentary status even after their arrest .
The MPs lose their mandate only if there is a Justice decision to deprive them of their civil rights, a decision that normally follows a court sentence.
Speaking to news portal zougla.gr, lawyers explained that when it comes to a criminal organization , especially the leader but also the members face prison terms of 10 to 20 years.
“When it comes to felony, parliamentary immunity is being bypassed. Participation in a criminal organization is a felony. However, what evidence the prosecutor has and how the prosecutor will proceed, we do not know. We must be cautious,” a legal adviser said.
Two days ago, Golden Dawn had threatened to resign from Parliament in order to trigger early elections. Should the 18 GD MPs resign repetition elections will be held only in 15 constituencies.
However, before the repetition elections also those GD politicians on ‘second-best” election lists should not accept the Parliamentary mandate.
15:02
Golden Dawn MP Nikos Michos surrender to police short before 3 o’ clock. Michos first joined the GD members who had gathered outside police HQ in solidarity with the arrested GD leadership, greeted them and then entered the police building.
A warrant has been issued also for GD MP, Christos Pappas. He has not been caught yet.
15:30
Some media claim of “upcoming search in the Parliament offices of Golden Dawn” due to suspicion MP Pappas might have sought refugee there.
15:50
Solidarity without Golden Dawn symbols: 400-500 GD members still outside the headquarters of Greek police where the political leadership of the party and officers of local branches are held.
The cadres, much fewer than thought, carry Greek flags instead of Golden Dawn symbols. Neither do they wear the famous GD t-shirts.
16:08
Police investigation in the Golden Dawn offices at the first floor of the Greek Parliament was launched some minutes ago.
16:31
So far 19 people arrested, arrest warrants for another 13 Golden Dawn members not fulfilled yet.
Unconfirmed information claim MP Christos Pappas has contacted anti-terror police in order to surrender. He is allegedly expect to surrender in soon.
16:35
“”I’m proud of my father, as any child whose father is a victim of political persecution, should be. Nothing scares us,” daughter of GD leader Michaloliakos, Ourania, told the media after visiting police headquarters in Athens.
A couple of days ago and right after the judicial authorities started to move against Golden Dawn, Ourania Michaloliakos uploaded a message on social media calling “Golden Dawn members to die for the cause.”
16:40
Greek police issued a statement (16:33) saying that GD MP Giorgos Germenis is currently in police headquarters but that he was not arrested.
16:57
Nikos Michaloliakos and the rest of Golden Dawn MPs and members are expected to be soon transferred from police headquarters to Evelpidon court.
and....
http://hat4uk.wordpress.com/2013/09/28/greek-political-murder-suspicions-grow-as-police-swoop-on-golden-dawn/
GREEK POLITICAL MURDER: Suspicions grow as police swoop on Golden Dawn
Golden Dawn leader and ten of his colleagues arrested
Kasidiaris…likely Athens winner in custody?
As support for Golden Dawn more than halved this week from 14% to 6.7%, many leading commentators here have growing doubts about the motives behind police actions since the murder of Leftist hip-hop rapper Pavlos Fissas ten days ago. Three hours ago Athens sources confirmed to me that GD leader Nikolaos Mihaloliakos and ten other Party members – including prominent MPs – have been arrested on charges of “forming a criminal political Party”. It is notable thatnone of the accused, I’m told, have been arrested in direct connection with the murder of Fissas.
Unconfirmed reports further suggest that Elias Kasidiaris (the Golden Dawn Athens mayoral candidate hotly tipped to win that City election) has also been taken into custody. If true, this will further fuel the widespread belief that these events represent an attempt by the Samaras Government to guarantee themselves a clear victory in any future elections. Without Golden Dawn in the running, many traditional voters would switch to Samaras’s Party New Democracy. This would leave Alexis Tsipras and Syriza once more neutered in opposition.
and...
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-09-28/biggest-greek-crackdown-39-years-leadership-far-right-golden-dawn-party-third-most-p
Biggest Greek Crackdown In 39 Years: Leadership Of Far-Right Golden Dawn Party, Third Most Popular In Greece, Arrested
In what may be a highly destabilizing step, both political and socially, Greece announced this morning that in a shocking political crackdown, the biggest since the fall of the military junta in 1974, the Police had arrested the leader and more than a dozen senior members of the far-right Golden Dawn party after the killing of an anti-fascist rapper by a party supporter triggered outrage and protests across the country. Reuters reports that the party's leader Nikolaos Mihaloliakos, spokesman Ilias Kassidiaris, two other lawmakers and 10 members were arrested on charges of founding a criminal organisation. They are due to appear in court this weekend to be charged formally. Police confiscated two guns and a hunting rifle from the home of Mihaloliakos, saying he did not have a license for them. As has been reported previously, Golden Dawn, is under investigation for the murder of Pavlos Fissas, who bled to death after being stabbed twice by a party sympathiser.
The crackdown, however, is a major problem in a country in which the neo-nazi Golden Dawn party is widely seen as the third most popular party, and this step, which will be largely seen as a politically-motivated ideological retaliation by the party's supporters, will almost certainly unleash even more social unrest and instability.
Reuters reports:
"Shame on them, the people will lift Golden Dawn higher," Ilias Panagiotaros, a Golden Dawn lawmaker told reporters before his arrest.Several hundred party supporters gathered outside police headquarters chanting slogans and waving Greek flags. The party on its website called for protests in solidarity with its leader.Prime Minister Antonis Samaras's government has so far resisted calls to ban the party, fearing it could make it even more popular at a time of growing anger at repeated rounds of austerity measures and instead, it has tried to undermine the party by ordering probes that could deprive it of state funding.
While PM Samaras ruled out snap elections after the arrests, it is difficult to see how this full crackdown on Golden Dawn can be contained in government without major repercussions:
Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras ruled out early elections after the arrest of senior Golden Dawn members and lawmakers on Saturday and said his government would focus on ensuring stability in the country. "The case is now in the hands of the justice system," Samaras told reporters after a meeting to discuss the developments around the arrests, the biggest crackdown on a political party since the fall of a military junta in 1974."Justice, stability, without elections," he said.An aide to Samaras also confirmed that the government had no intention to move towards snap elections. Golden Dawn controls 18 seats in the country's parliament. Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras said Greece did not face the risk of political instability and Justice Minister Haralambos Athanassiou said all Golden Dawn members who had been arrested would receive a fair trial.
Considering this is Greece, any talking point that is repeatedly denied, is virtually assured of happening. And the reason why the current PM is dead set against snap elections is that also according to recent polls, the opposition, anti-Europe party, Syriza continues to lead and have more support than the current ruling party, which could result in a rerun of the Greek elections from the summer of 2012 which nearly cost the Eurozone the expulsion of its most crippled member.
The public response has been loud and prompt:
The move to arrest the party members surprised some Greeks wary of political theatre in a country where little has been done to rein in a party widely viewed as neo-Nazi. "It's good that they arrested them, but I'm afraid that we will start killing each other now," said Dimitra Vassilopoulou, a 58-year old housewife."Does the government actually mean it or is it just a tactic to impress us? Why didn't they do anything when the immigrants were killed? How come they just discovered that Golden Dawn is a criminal organisation?"
And some more on the political implications.
The party has denied any links to the killing and Mihaloliakos has
warned the party could pull its lawmakers from parliament if the
crackdown does not stop. If potential by-elections were won by the opposition, as some polls indicate, Greece's fragile two-party coalition would become politically untenable, Mihaloliakos has argued.The party has 18 of parliament's 300 lawmakers and scored 14 percent of voter support in opinion polls before the stabbing. A poll this week showed this had fallen as low as 6.7 percent.Greek lawmakers do not lose their political rights or seats unless there is a final court ruling against them but the government has proposed a law that could block state funding for Golden Dawn if police find links to Fissas's murder.Golden Dawn, whose emblem resembles a swastika, rose from obscurity to enter parliament last year after promising to mine Greece's borders to prevent illegal immigrants from entering. Its members have been seen giving Nazi-style salutes but the party rejects the neo-Nazi label.
One thing is certain: in Greece, where unemployment (not to mention the youth) hits a new record high every month, the population certainly has a lot of free time. And all that would take for that idleness to be harnessed and catalyzed, is some major social event which instead of dismantling neonazis, further coalesces public support behind them.
and.....
Crackdown on Golden Dawn ongoing
It is the first time since 1974 that a party head and sitting members of Parliament have been arrested. Police on Saturday announced the arrests of party head Nikos Michaloliakos, spokesman Ilias Kassidiaris, as well as deputies Ilias Panagiotaros and Ioannis Lagos. Authorities also said they arrested the general secretary of Golden Dawn's Nikea chapter Nikos Patelis, as well as nine other unnamed party members. Skai reported that two police officers were also arrested during the operation by the counterterrorism unit that is still ongoing, with more than 30 arrest warrants for Golden Dawn members issued. Justice Minister Haralambos Athanasiou and Public Order Minister Nikos Dendias met with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras to brief him on developments. Despite the arrests, the party's lawmakers retain their parliamentary seats unless they are convicted of a crime. Golden Dawn holds 18 of Parliament's 300 seats, after winning nearly 7 percent of the vote in general elections last year. The arrests come 11 days after the killing of a left-wing activist rapper by an alleged Golden Dawn member. Though the party has vehemently denied any role in the killing, it has appeared to dent its appeal among Greeks and the government has worked to crack down on the party. Golden Dawn expressed outrage at the arrests in a text message to journalists. "We call upon everyone to support our moral and just struggle against the corrupt system! Everyone come to our offices!," it said. A later text message called for supporters to head to police headquarters "with calm and order." Hundreds of Golden Dawn sympathizers have reportedly gathered outside the building chanting slogans in support of the party. “You dismantled the police and EYP (the National Intelligence Service) in order to arrest us,” Giorgos Germenis told journalists gathered at the site. A formerly marginal organization with neo-Nazi roots, Golden Dawn entered the Greek Parliament for the first time in May 2012, capitalizing on Greece's deep financial crisis, rising crime and anti-immigrant sentiment. The party's members and supporters have frequently been suspected of carrying out violent attacks, mainly against immigrants. Despite its reputation for violence, the party had enjoyed growing popularity. A government spokesman refused to comment on the details of the operation. "Democracy can protect itself. Justice will do its job," Simos Kedikoglou told reporters. Dimitris Papadimoulis, parliamentary spokesman for leftist SYRIZA opposition, said that the country's legal arsenal was enough to crack down on any criminal acts committed by members of Golden Dawn. “It is crucial to substantiate these charges,” he told Skai ahead of a party meeting to discuss the latest developments. In a statement on Saturday, the European Commission expressed its “full confidence in the Greek justice to take all necessary actions, in respect of legal procedures." “The Greek political system has risen to the challenge and [is taking steps to] protect the democratic rule of law," EU Commissioner Maria Damanaki told Kathimerini in Brussels. [AP, Kathimerini English Edition]
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UPD: Police bans Greek Reservists ‘coup d’ etat’ gathering; possible links Golden Dawn-Greek Army investigated
Posted by keeptalkinggreece in Politics
The union of Greek army reservists of Special Forces (KEED) issued a statement on Wednesday calling citizens to join the army against the Greek government.
KEED was urging the Greek administration to step down and make way for a national unity government. The statement, posted on the union’s website on Wednesday, triggered an emergency meeting at the Supreme Court on Wednesday evening and a prosecutor’s investigation on Thursday morning.
The KEED statement said that the coalition government must resign after failing to live up with a constitutional pledge to provide work, health, education, justice and security for all citizens.
The statement included 15 demands like the resignation of Greek President Karolos Papoulias, and it urged people to join hands with the army in a open gathering to take place upcoming Saturday, September 28th 2013 at Syntagma Square outside the Greek Parliament.
KEED is one of the Greek Army Reservists unions, and consists mainly of members of Mountain Command Battalion on the Land Forces.
Reservists and Fyssas’ Murderer
In the statement issued later to respond to criticism “it was calling for a coup d’ etat” KEED said it was merely submitting proposals.
KEED also dismissed it had links to extreme-right Golden Dawn.
Golden Dawn and Greek Armed Forces
Other unions of active reservists distanced themselves from KEED. Also members of the Greek Armed Forces downplayed “the call to coup d’ etat” as “ridiculous”.
However, the infiltration of Golden Dawn not only to Greek Police but also to Greek Armed forces seems to be a fact.
Speaking to daily Kathimerini, an anonymous source from the high ranks of the Greek Air Force emphasized the impact of the Golden Dawn is big at all levels of the Armed Forces. “There has always been a trend, that it has been de-criminalized today as the same ideas are being heard in the Parliament. Therefore, slogan like “We’ll take the Polis*”
[Konstantinople/Istanbul] are been heard openly. Increased is also the anti-left trend.”
Golden Dawn MPs do not miss a chance inside the Parliament to downgrade the institution and the democratic procedures, to swear at colleagues MPs from other parties, whether from the right or the left front.
Investigation in the Greek Armed Forces
Meanwhile, the internal investigation in the Special Forces of the Greek Armed Forces to identify whether active members of the Special Forces had links to illegal activities of Golden Dawn were turned negative.
However if one takes a close look in the wording, the investigation was examining whether active members of the Special Forces were involved in illegal activities of Golden Dawn, that is, whether the SF were giving military training to GD members.
Defense-issues website Onalert.gr reported citing the investigation findings as they were submitted to the Greek Chief of Stab:
Note: earlier KTG reported on the findings a little superficial citing a private television channel that had said there was ‘no evidence of involment’. apologies…
* the dream of every Greek ultra-nationalist: to claim back Konstantinoupoli (Istanbul) from the Turkish state. In fact not just claim the city of 15 million population but to annex it to Greece.
KEED was urging the Greek administration to step down and make way for a national unity government. The statement, posted on the union’s website on Wednesday, triggered an emergency meeting at the Supreme Court on Wednesday evening and a prosecutor’s investigation on Thursday morning.
The KEED statement said that the coalition government must resign after failing to live up with a constitutional pledge to provide work, health, education, justice and security for all citizens.
The statement included 15 demands like the resignation of Greek President Karolos Papoulias, and it urged people to join hands with the army in a open gathering to take place upcoming Saturday, September 28th 2013 at Syntagma Square outside the Greek Parliament.
KEED is one of the Greek Army Reservists unions, and consists mainly of members of Mountain Command Battalion on the Land Forces.
Reservists and Fyssas’ Murderer
In the statement issued later to respond to criticism “it was calling for a coup d’ etat” KEED said it was merely submitting proposals.
KEED also dismissed it had links to extreme-right Golden Dawn.
Daily TA NEA claimed on Friday that Giorgos Roupakias, a Golden Dawn member, had received a phone call by a reservist of the Greek Armed Forces before he set out to stab to death leftist rapper Pavlos Fyssas on September 17th.
However it is not confirmed whether the caller was a retired or active reservists or not reservist at all.KEED declared it had taken part in quite a number of anti-austerity protests.
Golden Dawn and Greek Armed Forces
Other unions of active reservists distanced themselves from KEED. Also members of the Greek Armed Forces downplayed “the call to coup d’ etat” as “ridiculous”.
However, the infiltration of Golden Dawn not only to Greek Police but also to Greek Armed forces seems to be a fact.
Speaking to daily Kathimerini, an anonymous source from the high ranks of the Greek Air Force emphasized the impact of the Golden Dawn is big at all levels of the Armed Forces. “There has always been a trend, that it has been de-criminalized today as the same ideas are being heard in the Parliament. Therefore, slogan like “We’ll take the Polis*”
[Konstantinople/Istanbul] are been heard openly. Increased is also the anti-left trend.”
Golden Dawn MPs do not miss a chance inside the Parliament to downgrade the institution and the democratic procedures, to swear at colleagues MPs from other parties, whether from the right or the left front.
Investigation in the Greek Armed Forces
Meanwhile, the internal investigation in the Special Forces of the Greek Armed Forces to identify whether active members of the Special Forces had links to illegal activities of Golden Dawn were turned negative.
However if one takes a close look in the wording, the investigation was examining whether active members of the Special Forces were involved in illegal activities of Golden Dawn, that is, whether the SF were giving military training to GD members.
Defense-issues website Onalert.gr reported citing the investigation findings as they were submitted to the Greek Chief of Stab:
“There is no strong evidence, proving with certainty the involvement of active members of the Special Forces in illegal activities of the Golden Dawn.
“Education of citizens in military exercises or using military weapons, constitutes an illegal act.
However, the participation of any individual member has not completely ruled out. Therefore, some investigations – very few cases – are continuing. In case, there is incriminating evidence, the case will be dealt rigorously by the military leadership.
It is to be clarified that the investigations of the military authorities do not refer to former retired, former officers of the Special Forces because with such case it is the Justice that is dealing with.” (onalert.gr)The investigation was ordered last Sunday by Defense Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos.
Note: earlier KTG reported on the findings a little superficial citing a private television channel that had said there was ‘no evidence of involment’. apologies…
* the dream of every Greek ultra-nationalist: to claim back Konstantinoupoli (Istanbul) from the Turkish state. In fact not just claim the city of 15 million population but to annex it to Greece.
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