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Golden Dawn leader jailed pending trial after Athens hearing Followers cheer as head of Golden Dawn appears in court
(about 4 hours later)
The leader of Greece's far-right Golden Dawn party has been jailed pending trial on charges of belonging to a criminal group that sowed terror on the streets of the country. The head of Greece's far-right Golden Dawn party appeared in court on Wednesday in a highly anticipated defence of charges that he used the group to operate a criminal organisation that sowed terror on the streets of the country.
Armed police led Nikolaos Mihaloliakos away from the courthouse in handcuffs in the early hours of Thursday after testimony lasting more than six hours. His hands cuffed, Nikos Mihaloliakos was brought to Athens' court complex as followers cheered on the man accused of being the pre-eminent face of neo-nazism in Europe. "Blood, honour, Chrysi Avgi [Golden Dawn]," they screamed as the squat, grey-haired politician was led under armed guard into the building.
His wife and daughter, also party members, and other Golden Dawn MPs, stood outside the building and shouted words of encouragement to him as he was led away.
"The ridiculous little men, they decided to jail the leader," said party MP Michalis Arvanitis.
Mihaloliakos has denied the charges.
Michaloliakos was brought to Athens' court complex in the evening as followers cheered on the man accused of being the pre-eminent face of neo-nazism in Europe. "Blood, honour, Chrysi Avgi [Golden Dawn]," they screamed as the squat, grey-haired politician was led under armed guard into the building.
The first elected party chief to be arrested in Greece since the fall of military rule almost 40 years ago, Michaloliakos had been expected to adopt the same stance as five other Golden Dawn MPs arrested on Saturday, arguing he is the victim of political persecution. The 56-year-old mathematician is believed to have combed through a 4,000-page dossier drawn up by a supreme court prosecutor outlining Golden Dawn's alleged crimes over 20 years.The first elected party chief to be arrested in Greece since the fall of military rule almost 40 years ago, Michaloliakos had been expected to adopt the same stance as five other Golden Dawn MPs arrested on Saturday, arguing he is the victim of political persecution. The 56-year-old mathematician is believed to have combed through a 4,000-page dossier drawn up by a supreme court prosecutor outlining Golden Dawn's alleged crimes over 20 years.
Charges include founding a political force that subscribes to the principles of Nazi ideology and actively indulges in widespread violence, targeting immigrants, minorities and political opponents. The charges include founding a political force that subscribes to the principles of Nazi ideology and actively indulges in widespread violence, targeting immigrants, minorities and political opponents.
Three of the four MPs arrested with Michaloliakos were released on Wednesday pending trial. A fourth deputy, Yannis Lagos, was ordered to be kept in detention following charges that, like Michaloliakos, he was directly connected to the death of Greek hip-hop star Pavlos Fyssas on September 17 in a working class suburb of Athens.Three of the four MPs arrested with Michaloliakos were released on Wednesday pending trial. A fourth deputy, Yannis Lagos, was ordered to be kept in detention following charges that, like Michaloliakos, he was directly connected to the death of Greek hip-hop star Pavlos Fyssas on September 17 in a working class suburb of Athens.
The court also ordered Giorgos Patelis, the head of Golden Dawn's local office in the area west of Athens where Fyssas was stabbed, to be remanded in custody.The court also ordered Giorgos Patelis, the head of Golden Dawn's local office in the area west of Athens where Fyssas was stabbed, to be remanded in custody.
A sixth party MP, Christos Pappas, who the prosecution has described as Michaloliakos' second in command, was to appear in court for his preliminary hearing later on Thursday morning.A sixth party MP, Christos Pappas, who the prosecution has described as Michaloliakos' second in command, was to appear in court for his preliminary hearing later on Thursday morning.
Ilias Kasidiaris, the party's press officer, was freed on condition that he posted €50,000 (£42,000) in bail. All of the men were told they could not leave Greece.Ilias Kasidiaris, the party's press officer, was freed on condition that he posted €50,000 (£42,000) in bail. All of the men were told they could not leave Greece.
Opposition politicians and lawyers voiced fears that while executed with good intent, the charge sheet had been put together too quickly.Opposition politicians and lawyers voiced fears that while executed with good intent, the charge sheet had been put together too quickly.
"This development shows that at least in the eyes of the court authorities the case was not substantiated enough," said Harris Ikonomopoulos, publisher of the left-leaning daily Eleftherotypia and a prominent lawyer. "It creates the perception that Greece is becoming a failed state where none of its institutions or the rule of law work.""This development shows that at least in the eyes of the court authorities the case was not substantiated enough," said Harris Ikonomopoulos, publisher of the left-leaning daily Eleftherotypia and a prominent lawyer. "It creates the perception that Greece is becoming a failed state where none of its institutions or the rule of law work."
Freed from custody, the Golden Dawn politicians showed their contempt for the media, shoving, kicking and spitting at photographers outside the Athens court. "Now you will see you disgusting people," one deputy, Ilias Panagiotaros, said. "You will only stop us with bullets."Freed from custody, the Golden Dawn politicians showed their contempt for the media, shoving, kicking and spitting at photographers outside the Athens court. "Now you will see you disgusting people," one deputy, Ilias Panagiotaros, said. "You will only stop us with bullets."
The extremists have been held responsible for hundreds of assaults in the 16 months since their 18 MPs were elected with 7% of the vote to the Athens parliament in June last year.The extremists have been held responsible for hundreds of assaults in the 16 months since their 18 MPs were elected with 7% of the vote to the Athens parliament in June last year.
As the alleged mastermind of a criminal gang, Michaloliakos has also been linked to the murder of Fyssas, who rapped about the rise of racism in Greece.As the alleged mastermind of a criminal gang, Michaloliakos has also been linked to the murder of Fyssas, who rapped about the rise of racism in Greece.
The stabbing by a self-proclaimed member of Golden Dawn spurred Antonis Samaras's coalition government to take what officials are describing as the huge risk of launching the crackdown last weekend. From the US, where he is on an official trip, Samaras vowed to eradicate the evil of neo-Nazism, saying there was no place for it in any state. The stabbing by a self-proclaimed member of Golden Dawn spurred Antonis Samaras's coalition government to take what officials are describing as the huge risk of launching the crackdown last weekend.
From the US, where he is on an official trip, Samaras vowed to eradicate the evil of neo-Nazism, saying there was no place for it in any state.
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