President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou attended a wreath laying ceremony to honour the heroes of the struggle against the seven-year dictatorship and the restoration of democracy.
She was received by Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis and the president of the junta resistance fighters’ association, Evangelos Giougkis at the former EAT-ESA jail in Athens on Sunday (Greece time).
President Sakellaropoulou laid a wreath at the bust of Spyros Moustaklis, a resistance fighter who opposed the 1967-1974 junta.
“We are grateful to the fighters against the dictatorship, to those who risked their lives for the freedom of all of us…” she said.
“The honour given to them has not only historical value, but also a pedagogical function: it reminds us that the defence of democracy is permanent and is our highest duty.”
Ένα στεφάνι από την Πρόεδρο της Δημοκρατίας @PresidencyGR εκ μέρους όλων των Ελλήνων, στα κρατητήρια της ΕΑΤ- ΕΣΑ στο Πάρκο Ελευθερίας, φόρος τιμής σε εκείνους που βασανίστηκαν κι έδωσαν τη ζωή τους για την πατρίδα, 48 χρόνια από τότε που η Δημοκρατία αποκαταστάθηκε στην Ελλάδα. pic.twitter.com/hzpxRi51eQ
— Kostas Bakoyannis (@KBakoyannis) July 24, 2022
After the wreath laying ceremony, she attended the official reception held in the garden of the Presidential Mansion in Athens at 20.00pm receiving various personalities, including political leaders, members of the government and parliament, the leadership of the armed forces, members of the resistance, members of the judiciary, journalists, civil servants as well as organisations engaged in social action.
Στην 48η επέτειο αποκατάστασης της Δημοκρατίας τιμήσαμε τους αγωνιστές κατά της δικτατορίας και συμπολίτες μας που συμβολίζουν το άνοιγμα στην κοινωνία. Η δημοκρατία δεν αφορά μόνο την οργάνωση της Πολιτείας, αλλά και τον αδιαπραγμάτευτο τρόπο της ζωής μας.https://t.co/pztHz1Zexp pic.twitter.com/af9D8pRP8S
— President GR (@PresidencyGR) July 24, 2022
The guest list included judge Maria Lepenioti, who was president of the court in the trial of Golden Dawn; geneticist Emmanouil Dermitzakis, who heads the Genetics and Genomics Institute in Geneva; Christos Kyratsous, head of research in infectious diseases and viral vector technologies at Regeneron; space exploration scientist Dr Stamatios Krimigis.
Two young refugees who excelled in the university entrance examinations were also present, a Roma university student, the mayor of Gavdos Lilian Stefanaki, Halki pharmacist Panagiotis Patelis, and the family of volunteer fire fighter Vassilis Filoras who died fighting a fire in Ippokratio Politia in 2021.
Artists, athletes such as Greece’s national polo team, representatives of business and industry, homeless persons and people with disabilities also paid their respects.
From the event at the Presidential Mansion. Photo: Giannis Panagopoulos//EUROKINISSI
PM Kyriakos Mitsitakis with President Sakellaropoulou. From the event at the Presidential Mansion. Photo: Giannis Panagopoulos//EUROKINISSI
From the event at the Presidential Mansion. Photo: Giannis Panagopoulos//EUROKINISSI
From the event at the Presidential Mansion. Photo: Giannis Panagopoulos//EUROKINISSI
