Alexandros Giotopoulos ordered to return to prison

The Supreme Court of Greece has overturned a decision by the Piraeus Court of Appeal that previously granted the release of Alexandros Giotopoulos. Giotopoulos, a central figure in the terrorist organization 17 November, was sentenced to 17 life terms and had been incarcerated since 2002. Following his recent release after 24 years, Supreme Court Prosecutor Konstantinos Tzavellas instructed Deputy Prosecutor Sofoklis Logothetis to review the legal basis of the decision. The review concluded that Giotopoulos had not completed the mandatory 25-year custodial period required by law and failed to meet the necessary substantive conditions for release. Consequently, the Supreme Court has ordered his re-arrest and return to Korydallos prison. This release attempt was the fifth consecutive effort by Giotopoulos, following previous negative recommendations from various judicial bodies. He remains a convicted leader of the group dismantled in 2002.