Greek Court Reverses Decision on Convicted Militant Leader
ATHENS — Greece’s Supreme Court has ordered the return of Alexandros Giotopoulos, the convicted leader of the now-defunct November 17 militant organization, to prison after overturning a recent decision that allowed his release. The ruling comes less than a month after the 82-year-old was granted freedom for medical reasons.
Giotopoulos, who has consistently denied the accusations against him, appeared before prosecutors and was expected to be transferred back to the high-security Korydallos prison near Athens.
Release on Health Grounds Overturned
Giotopoulos was released on May 21 after a judicial panel approved a request based on health concerns. The application had been submitted in 2025 and led to his departure from prison following nearly 24 years behind bars.
However, prosecutors challenged the decision, and Greece’s top court sided with the appeal, effectively canceling the earlier ruling and requiring the veteran inmate to resume serving his sentence.
Long History of the November 17 Group
Authorities arrested Giotopoulos in 2002 during the dismantling of November 17, a Marxist militant group blamed for a decades-long campaign of assassinations and attacks. Members of the organization were convicted in 2003, and an appeals court later upheld his punishment.
In 2007, Giotopoulos received 17 life sentences plus an additional 25 years in prison. The organization had carried out attacks over a span of 27 years before being broken up by Greek authorities.
Legal Battle Continues
The latest court decision underscores the continuing legal scrutiny surrounding one of Greece’s most notorious militant figures. His return to prison marks another chapter in a case that has remained highly sensitive decades after the collapse of the November 17 organization.
