Greek Supreme Court Orders November 17 Leader Back to Prison

Greece’s Supreme Court has overturned the release of Alexandros Giotopoulos, the convicted leader of the notorious November 17 guerrilla group, sending him back to prison just weeks after he was freed on health grounds. The 82-year-old was released in May after a judicial panel approved his request for early release.

Giotopoulos was arrested in 2002 when Greek authorities dismantled November 17, a Marxist militant organization responsible for a 27-year campaign of assassinations and attacks. Although he consistently denied involvement, he was convicted in 2003 and later sentenced on appeal to 17 life terms plus 25 years in prison.

The Supreme Court this week backed a prosecutor’s challenge to his release, reversing the earlier decision. Giotopoulos appeared before a prosecutor on Tuesday and is expected to be transferred back to the high-security Korydallos Prison in Athens, marking another chapter in one of Greece’s most significant terrorism cases.

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