“Prosecutions and repression will be met with mass struggle” was the message conveyed yesterday morning by the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE), which held a protest rally at the Evelpidon Courthouse, demanding the acquittal of Vasilis Pyrros, a member of the Bureau of the Central Council of KNE. Pyrros was facing trial over his participation in an anti-war demonstration that was met with brutal police repression.
The demonstrators condemned “yet another political prosecution, for which the New Democracy government bears responsibility, as part of a broader ‘prosecution industry’ and the attempt to silence those who dare to speak out”.
It should be noted that the court of first instance relied exclusively on police testimony, sentencing the militant to imprisonment on charges of alleged “disturbing the peace” and “attempted grievous bodily harm”, despite evidence showing that he was an unarmed protester confronted by a fully equipped riot police unit.
Among those attending the hearing were Yannis Gkiokas, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the KKE and a KKE MP; Thodoris Kotsandis, Secretary of the Central Council of KNE; and Yannis Tasioulas, member of the Secretariat of the All Workers’ Militant Front (PAME).
The trial was adjourned until 26 June.
