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Charges against nine members of Golden Dawn and a request for the removal of their immunity have been submitted to Parliament. Indictment investigators Ioanna Klapa and Maria Dimitropoulou have raised the issue of the legality of the party.
It is emphasized that "an essential condition for the existence and functioning of a political party is that the party should service the functioning of a democratic government." The investigators noted that a party which uses armed violence and threats against human life under the mantle of a political party cannot be protected.
The case concerns Eleni Zaroulia, Nikos Kouzilos, Antonis Gregos, Michalis Arvanitis, Polivios Zisimopoulos, Artemios Mateopoulos, Konstantinos Barbarousis, Chrisovalandis Alexopoulos and Dimitris Koukoutsis.
There is a request for the removal of the parliamentary immunity of Nikos Mihalolyakos, Ioannis Lagos, George Germenis, and Efstathios Boukouras, who are arrested, as well as of Ilias Kasidiaris and Nikos Michos who are defendants and have been released on bail. They are being investigated according to additional charges, including gun possession and supplying of a criminal organization.
Leader Nikos Mihaloliakos and Ioannis Lagos are also being investigated for further violations of the law on firearms and explosive materials; Nikos Michos is being investigated for drug possession and Christos Papas - for violations of the law on firearms and law on antiquities (two church books of 1830 are concerned).
In a statement, Mateopoulos argued that the procedure was unjustified and unconstitutional. He talked about the anti-Greek government, which fears the rise of Golden Dawn, and accused SYRIZA that it has become "a tail of the government."
The new request for the removal of the immunity of Golden Dawn deputies is based on 115 testimonies and many other revelations during the judicial investigation, as well as on the testimony of the accused.
What does the report of the investigators claim? The removal of immunity of the nine members of Golden Dawn, who have not been investigated by the Justice so far, is requested for participation and management of a criminal organization.
According to information, Ioanna Klapa and Maria Dimitropoulou want the removal of the immunity of members of the parliamentary group of Golden Dawn, since available data show that there is evidence that the entire parliamentary group of the party should be summoned in order to testify.
According to the same information, the investigators want again the removal of the immunity of Nikos Mihaloliakos, Ilias Kasidiaris, Nikos Michos, Ioannis Lagos, George Germenis, and Efstathios Boukouras so that they could be questioned about the possession of firearms and ammunition for the supply of a criminal organization. The same document requests the removal of the immunity of Mihaloliakos and Christos Papas for the establishment of an illegal archive.
The report has historical references – it is noted that Golden Dawn was established in the early 80s by Nikos Mihaloliakos and had a National Socialism character, with clear references to the Third Reich, Hitler and the SS.
The examination of the evidence made it clear that Golden Dawn has a distinct hierarchy, with the segregation of duties related to dissemination of its ideas and training of its members.
The examination of phones of the accused showed that members of local organizations have been summoned with text messages in order to participate in all events of the party. Judicial authorities also have videos and photos which depict MPs’ Nazi salutes. As for the military structure of the organization, there are data showing that groups of Golden Dawn members have participated in demonstrations with a military march and in a battle formation, wearing the same clothes and symbols.
The MPs have exercised control, giving orders and approving violent acts of party members.
Regarding the statement of the press attaché of Golden Dawn following the report of the investigators who want the removal of immunity of Golden Dawn MPs, in which Ilias Kasidiaris talked about "bandits who attack the judiciary and were instructed to put the deputies in jail..." as well as about "traitors who will be punished severely," the Union of Prosecutors said that: "This is certainly a sad proof of the new concept of treatment of state institutions, including the judiciary, by acting MPs. Citizen should make their own conclusions."