Alexandros Giotopoulos returns to prison following Supreme Court ruling

The Greek Supreme Court's 5th Penal Division has overturned a previous decision by the Piraeus Council of Appeals that had granted conditional release to Alexandros Giotopoulos. Giotopoulos, a convicted leader of the terrorist organization '17 November' serving multiple life sentences, was ordered to return to Korydallos prison. The Supreme Court ruled that he has not met the mandatory 25-year actual imprisonment requirement stipulated by the new Penal Code for crimes committed before July 1, 2019. Furthermore, the court determined that the Piraeus Council of Appeals failed to provide a sufficient, evidence-based justification for its decision to release him. The justices stated that academic achievements and compliance with prison rules do not necessarily equate to the required moral transformation. Following the procedural finalization of his re-incarceration, Giotopoulos was transferred from the Attica General Police Directorate to Korydallos prison. His previous release had been challenged by Deputy Prosecutor of the Supreme Court Sofoklis Logothetis, who argued that legal and substantial conditions for parole were not met.