The head of Greece's extreme far-right Golden Dawn party, Nikolaos Michaloliakos, has been granted conditional early release from prison. This decision comes after serving part of his sentence for running a criminal organization responsible for violent hate crimes.
A council of judges approved Michaloliakos' request for early release, considering that he had met the minimal legal requirement and his age, being over 65, which increases the time he is formally considered to have served. Additionally, his poor health condition and 18 months spent in pre-trial detention were taken into account.
In October 2020, Michaloliakos and five other former Golden Dawn lawmakers were convicted of running a criminal organization and were sentenced to 13 years in prison. Other members of the party received varying sentences following a lengthy five-year trial.
Golden Dawn, initially founded as a Nazi-inspired group in the 1980s, gained significant political influence during Greece's financial crisis from 2010 to 2018, becoming the country's third-largest political party. However, its support waned post-crisis, leading to its failure to secure parliamentary seats.
The crackdown on Golden Dawn ensued after a left-wing musician was fatally stabbed in Athens in 2013, resulting in a Golden Dawn associate receiving a life sentence for the crime. The decision to release Michaloliakos has sparked dismay among Greek political parties and the family of the slain musician.
