Greek court upholds convictions of leaders of neo-Nazi party

"A panel of five judges at the Criminal Appeal Court in Athens confirmed the 2020 convictions of 42 Golden Dawn members and associates who had appealed their sentences. They include party leader Nikos Michaloliakos, 68, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison but was released on parole last year on health grounds."

"Golden Dawn was founded as a neo-Nazi party in the 1980s. The party rose to prominence during the country's financial crisis, with the party having held seats in parliament between 2012 and 2019. Golden Dawn built a national profile based on an anti-austerity and anti-immigrant agenda."

"A criminal investigation into the party began after the murder of a left-wing rapper, Pavlos Fyssas, in 2013. The party member who fatally stabbed Fyssas was found guilty of murder in 2020. The appeals court on Wednesday also upheld that decision."

A Greek appeals court unanimously upheld the 2020 convictions of 42 Golden Dawn members and associates, including party leader Nikos Michaloliakos, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison. The court confirmed findings that Golden Dawn operated as a criminal organization disguised as a political party. Golden Dawn, founded as a neo-Nazi party in the 1980s, rose to prominence during Greece's financial crisis and became the country's third-most popular party by 2012-2019. The criminal investigation began following the 2013 murder of left-wing rapper Pavlos Fyssas by a party member. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomed the decision, describing it as closing a traumatic chapter in Greek parliamentary history.

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