Far-left supporters of ‘anarchist’ assassin who killed a CIA agent and British attache clash with Greek police after he went on hunger strike in prison
- Dimitris Koufodinas is serving multiple life sentences for several assassinations
- He has refused food for nearly 50 days after being denied a prison transfer
- Far-left supporters clashed with Athens police over his treatment, as his partner says he is ‘borderline comatose’
- Koufodinas was part of the November 17 terror group responsible for 23 murders
Police in Greece have clashed with far-left protestors defending a far-left hitman who is near death after a 50-day hunger strike in prison.
Photos show officers in riot gear firing tear gas into a central Athens station as they chased down dozens of protesters.
They are demanding the government intervenes in the case of Dimitris Koufodinas, the top assassin for the defunct November 17 extremist group.
Koufodinas, one of the leaders of the group whose aim was to overthrow the country’s government, was convicted of 11 killings after handing himself in in 2002.
Police in Greece have clashed with far-left protestors defending a far-left hitman who is near death after a 50-day hunger strike in prison
Photos show officers in riot gear firing tear gas into a central Athens station as they chased down dozens of protesters
They are demanding the government intervenes in the case of Dimitris Koufodinas, the top assassin for the defunct November 17 extremist group
He was taken to a hospital in Lamia, central Greece, on Monday in serious condition after refusing food after being denied a prison transfer request.
His partner and son’s mother, Angeliki Sotiropoulou, said that the 63-year-old was now in a ‘critical condition’ and ‘borderline comatose’.
Koufodinas is seeking a transfer from a high-security prison in Domokos, central Greece, to Korydallos prison in Athens to be near his family.
Prison authorities argue that only suspects in pre-trial detention, not long-term convicts, are held at Korydallos prison.
Greek judges, lawyers and intellectuals have signed petitions calling on judicial authorities to respect Koufodinas’ rights.
Koufodinas was taken to a hospital in Lamia, central Greece, on Monday in serious condition after refusing food after being denied a prison transfer request
His partner and son’s mother, Angeliki Sotiropoulou, said that the 63-year-old was now in a ‘critical condition’ and ‘borderline comatose’
Greek judges, lawyers and intellectuals have signed petitions calling on judicial authorities to respect Koufodinas’ rights
Dubbed ‘Poison Hand’ by Greek media, Koufodinas was the main hitman of the far-left Greek extremist organisation November 17 that was dismantled in 2002
Koufodinas is seeking a transfer from a high-security prison in Domokos, central Greece, to Korydallos prison in Athens to be near his family
Supporters of Koufodinas have demonstrated outside the home of Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, and vandalised the offices of two ministers.
A solidarity march also took place in Thessaloniki.
Dubbed ‘Poison Hand’ by Greek media, Koufodinas was the main hitman of the far-left Greek extremist organisation November 17 that was dismantled in 2002.
He is serving multiple life sentences, having been convicted of 11 killings.
The November 17 group launched dozens of attacks between 1975 and 2000 that killed 23 people.
Their victims included the CIA station chief in Athens, several prominent Greek businessmen, Turkish diplomats and a British military attache.
One of Koufodinas’ victims was Pavlos Bakoyannis, a lawmaker who was the father of Athens Mayor Costas Bakoyannis and brother-in-law to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Upon coming to power in 2019, Mitsotakis’ government tightened prison regulations for violent crime offenders.