Trial of Dimitris Lignadis begins at the court of appeals

The trial of Dimitris Lignadis, the former artistic director of the National Theatre, has entered its appellate stage at the Mixed Jury Court of Appeals on July 9. The defendant faces charges related to three instances of rape involving minors. In the first-instance trial, Lignadis was sentenced to 12 years in prison but remained free pending the appeal filed by the public prosecutor. During the current proceedings, the first of three accusers testified, describing his initial contact with the defendant via social media in 2015 when he was 17 years old. The witness, of Ukrainian descent, testified that he felt paralyzed during the alleged assaults. He further alleged that the defendant targeted vulnerable individuals by exploiting their difficult social or economic circumstances. Lignadis denies the allegations as the court continues to examine the evidence presented in the case.