Impressions from yesterday’s trial against Golden Dawn

In three cases where witnesses testified during the trial against neonazi Golden Dawn, Greek police units openly collaborated with far-right members and supporters.

However, yesterday’s happening in Appeal court of Athens showed the most significant bonding between police and neonazis. And it happened in front of the eyes of all of us (judges, lawyers, journalists, and local public). Openly. No hiding. No secrets. No doubts.

One of the convicted defendants of knife attack on anarchist squat Antipnoia enters the courtroom during the trial against Golden Dawn in Korydallos Prison. May, 2015. (Photo copyright: Katja Lihtenvalner)

Yesterday two members of anarchist squat Antipnoia who were also victims of the knife attack (in 2008) by Goldendawners, were supposed to testify. Before they could do so, the tensions erupted to such a level that the hearing was canceled.

Some 50–60 fascist supporters came in the courtroom. All of them were men. As I follow the trial from the beginning (it started on 20th of April 2015) I can without any doubts report, that this group of men were not the fascist supporters that usually appear in the courtroom. It was a well organised group of Goldendawners which most probably came there with a very specific purpose.

I watched them as they threaten “to slit throats”, and glaring towards the audience. Police was acting as an observer during all this and did nothing.

During the tensions and while both sides were exchanging a few “verbal remarks” I gaped how the riot police unit entered the courtroom and attacked the antifascist side, with witnesses and victims of neonazi attacks from today’s and previous cases among them.

The fascist group applauded this gesture of the police. Extremely emblematic act which speaks for itself: Neonazis welcomed the violent act of Greek police officers against victims and antifascists. How convenient!

The Goldendawners also didn’t forget to provoke the most vulnerable person during the trial against Golden Dawn; Magda Fyssas (mother of murdered Pavlos Fyssas) screaming towards her: “Where is Pavlos now?”

Police during yesterday’s trial against neonazis picked a side. The side of the perpetrators: a self-proclaimed fascist political party, Golden Dawn.

Openly. No hiding. No secrets.