The infamous leader of the disbanded terrorist group ’17 November’ is still causing turmoil even from inside his prison cell; ’17 November’ was one of the most dangerous and lethal terror groups in the western society.
From 1975, when it emerged following the collapse of military rule with the killing of the CIA station chief in Athens, until June 2000 when it murdered the British military attaché in Athens, the group had assassinated 23 people including Greek politicians, businessmen and journalists.
The Greek government’s decision to move Dimitris Koufodinas from high-security penitentiary Korydallos to an open-air prison that operates as an agricultural facility has infuriated Greek citizens and international officials alike.
Following Europe, Turkey and the U.S. have joined the list of countries condemning the relocation of the highly dangerous and non-repentant hitman.
Meanwhile, over the past year Koufodinas has been allowed to take prison leave several times, a decision that had put the Syriza-ANEL government under fire more than once.
US State department spokesperson, Heather Nauert, took to Twitter to share fears that “in a country with a history of political violence, he [Koufodinas] could exert his appeal to train a new generation of armed guerrillas”.
The 60-year-old still has a significant following among members of the radical left who support armed resistance. Koufodinas was also known as ‘Poison Hand’ due to his shooting skills.
The U.S. feel that moving him from Athens to central Greece to pick fruits and farm the land after the long list of crimes against democracy he has committed, “doesn’t make any sense”.
“We understand convicted Greek terrorist Dimitris Koufodinas was moved to a farm prison with lighter restrictions. He murdered 11, including US personnel, and is inspiring the next generation of terrorists. We condemn in the strongest terms furloughs or any easing of his prison stay,” the tweet continued.
A Turkish government spokesperson also commented on the relocation, hinting to Greece’s refusal to extradite eight military officers Turkey has declares as terrorists.
“This has once again strengthened our doubts about the functioning of the judicial system in Greece,” they said.
“Granting tolerance to a terrorist disrespects the memory of our diplomats who were martyred and their families.”
Justice minister Stavros Kontonis responded saying that “The sentence will continue to be served as normal,” explaining that convicts were being moved to other facilities as part of plans to turn the vastly overcrowded Korydallos prison into a jail for defendants awaiting trial.
“The transfer does not entail special treatment, a reduction of the sentence or partially unrestricted residence,” Kontonis concluded.