As November 17 hitman Dimitris Koufodinas returned to the Korydallos jail, west of Athens, after a 48-hour leave on Thursday, a Greek minister hit back at the U.S. for condemning his release.
Koufodinas — currently serving a number of life sentences for crimes including murder – had been on hunger strike demanding prison leave.
November 17 is responsible for the murder of American, British and Turkish diplomats during its 27 years of activity.
The U.S. condemned the decision to grant Koufodinas leave, the third since November 2017. An embassy statement on Tuesday called it “a shameful injustice to his many victims’ families and a further incentive for his anarchist followers to commit violent and destructive acts in his name”.
However, Greek Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis hit back saying that US statements are “misguided.”
“I think the other side is following a dangerous practice, and I have also mentioned it to the United States ambassador, because the law is respected in Greece with no exceptions,” he said.
He explained that all procedures were followed and the prison authorities were unanimous in their decision to grant leave to Koufodinas.
“Unanimity is required for a decision to grant furlough to a prisoner. In all three cases, where the prisoner concerned was granted the furlough, there was unanimity of the members of the committee,” Kontonis said.
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