Three of the four suspects arrested following the attack of Thessaloniki mayor Yiannis Boutaris have been brought to trial, and managed to avoid jail time.
One of the 20-year-old men was found guilty of inflicting dangerous bodily wounds, and received a 21-month suspended sentence.
The two other men convicted of causing material damage and social disturbance faced a 14-month sentence, which was suspended for the 20-year-old, while the 36-year-old was given the option of paying off his sentence, for the cost of five euros per day.
The attack on the 75-year-old mayor took place on Saturday 19 May during commemorations at the White Tower in memory of the Greek Pontian Genocide, which occurred during and after the First World War.
Testifying on Wednesday, Mr Boutaris told the court he was convinced the attack was prearranged. He further revealed that he was called a “Turkophile and dirty Jew” prior to being thrown to the ground, where a group of people started kicking and punching him all over.
The mayor was later hospitalised with injuries sustained to his head, legs, and back, and was kept overnight before being discharged.
But the attacks didn’t stop there, with the attackers going on to strike the mayor’s car, smashing the rear window.
During the court proceedings on Wednesday, the three suspects brought to trial claimed that they had been dragged into the protest and that their intentions were not to cause harm.
“I am a Pontian and I attended the ceremony to honour the Pontian memory. I saw people booing at a person and I approached to see who that person was. I was carried away by foolishness and because of young age,” one of the 20-year-old’s, the son of a local priest, told the court.
Meanwhile the 36-year-old suspect said that he didn’t event know who the soon to be victim was initially, and that he was on drugs during the incident.
“I did not know who he was. I made a big mistake and I apologise. I was carried away by the crowd. I heard that the Mayor had permitted the gay parade,” he said.
Meanwhile the fourth person arrested, a 17-year-old, will be brought before a juvenile court later this year in October. His lawyer has said that his client is remorseful over his actions, and is open to making a public apology.