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11 Δεκεμβρίου 2013
Δημοσίευση12:46

Golden Dawn probe yields crucial new evidence

Video and photographic evidence made available to the magistrates investigating Golden Dawn is likely to lead to more charges being leveled against members of the neo-Nazi party and could even result in its MPs being accused of treason, sources told Kathimerini on Tuesday.

Δημοσίευση 12:46’
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Video and photographic evidence made available to the magistrates investigating Golden Dawn is likely to lead to more charges being leveled against members of the neo-Nazi party and could even result in its MPs being accused of treason, sources told Kathimerini on Tuesday.

Video and photographic evidence made available to the magistrates investigating Golden Dawn is likely to lead to more charges being leveled against members of the neo-Nazi party and could even result in its MPs being accused of treason, sources told Kathimerini on Tuesday.

It emerged that digital evidence gathered from the homes of Golden Dawn leader Nikos Michaloliakos and party spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris contained dozens of videos and photos that could prove incriminating for the party, which denies being sympathetic to Nazi ideology and using violence.

Images leaked to the media show Kasidiaris brandishing a number of firearms in photographs and leading paramilitary-style training of Golden Dawn members. There are also pictures of Golden Dawn members performing Nazi salutes and one wearing a Ku Klux Klan outfit.

Commenting on the photographs, which were splashed across the Greek media, Kasidiaris said the photos showed him “exercising” and questioned whether there were any objections to him training so that he does not end up “obese like Venizelos,” a reference to PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos. As for the KKK-style hoods, Ilias Panayiotaros, who faces trial on criminal charges along with Kasidiaris and several other neofascist deputies, attributed them to a “Carnival” party.

Material gathered from the homes of lawmakers Nikos Michos and Yiannis Lagos has not provided magistrates Ioanna Klapa and Maria Dimitropoulou with any new information but they are yet to review evidence recovered from the properties of five other Golden Dawn deputies, including Panayiotaros, being investigated.

The material also includes speeches given by Michaloliakos and other party members in which they fail to recognize parliamentary democracy and declare themselves to be in favor of its overthrow. Coupled with the evidence suggesting party supporters trained like members of a paramilitary organization and supported Nazi principles, the evidence could be enough for magistrates to bring charges under Article 135 of the penal code, which deals with cases of treason.