US Criticizes Greece Transfer Of Leftwing Terrorist To ‘Luxury’ Prison (Video)

US State Department spokesperson Ms Heather Nauert joined in the criticism of many other nations over Greece’s leftwing government’s decision to soften the prison regime of known terrorist Mr Dimitris Koufodinas , the ‘hitman’ of the ‘November 17’ terrorist organization who is held responsible for murdering several US military personnel during bombings and attacks in the 1980s and 1990s.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tsipras?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tsipras</a>&#39; govt is facing a growing backlash over its decision to move Dimitris <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Koufodinas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Koufodinas</a>, the hitman of the disbanded <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/farleft?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#farleft</a> terror group <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/November17?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#November17</a>, from a high-security prison to an open-air agricultural jail / <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/terrorism?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#terrorism</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/extremeleft?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#extremeleft</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Syriza?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Syriza</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/N17?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#N17</a><a href="https://t.co/N4g1290lDD">https://t.co/N4g1290lDD</a></p>&mdash; Ioannis E Kolovos (@ioannisekolovos) <a href="https://twitter.com/ioannisekolovos/status/1026358032962412544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Ms Nauert: “we understand convicted Greek terrorist Dimitris Koufodinas was moved to a farm prison with lighter restrictions. He murdered 11, including US personnel, and is inspiring the next generation of terrorists. We condemn in the strongest terms furloughs or any easing of his prison stay.”

The US State Department earlier this year also criticized the Greek government’s decision to grant Mr Koufodinas a 48-hour furlough from prison.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/statedeptspox?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@statedeptspox</a>: We once again condemn release of a convicted terrorist, Dimitris Koufodinas. He is on a 2-day furlough from a Greek prison. <a href="https://twitter.com/USEmbassyAthens?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USEmbassyAthens</a> has conveyed our serious concerns about this decision to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Greece?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Greece</a>’s Gov&#39;t. Terrorists should not get a vacation from jail. <a href="https://t.co/yyTMYVDOfW">pic.twitter.com/yyTMYVDOfW</a></p>&mdash; Department of State (@StateDept) <a href="https://twitter.com/StateDept/status/1009162108980768768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2018</a></blockquote>

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During the 1980s, the Hellenic Marxist-Leninist revolutionaries of ’17 November’ were at the top of America’s most wanted list as they were responsible for the kidnap and subsequent murder of, amongst others, local Athens CIA Chief Mr Richard Welch (who was shot by three men in front of his wife), US Navy Captain William Nordeen (whose car was destroyed by a car bomb a few meters from his residence) and US Air Force Sergeant Ronald O. Stewart (who was killed by a remotely-detonated bomb outside his apartment).

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Greek?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Greek</a> Government is facing a growing backlash over its decision to move the leader (Dimitris Koufodinas) of the disbanded leftist <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/terror?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#terror</a> group, November 17, from a high-security prison to a “luxury” open-air jail. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Athens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Athens</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ankara?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ankara</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Washington?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Washington</a> <a href="https://t.co/Pjds2ZVVnR">https://t.co/Pjds2ZVVnR</a> <a href="https://t.co/hmlURTHTgC">pic.twitter.com/hmlURTHTgC</a></p>&mdash; Tamer Yazar (@tameryazar) <a href="https://twitter.com/tameryazar/status/1026416955060838400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Mr Koufodinas, the organization’s chief hit man who was dubbed “Poison Hand” because of his good usage of guns, openly confessed to the crimes after he was caught and always failed to show any remorse. He was sentenced to several life sentences without parole.

The timing of the government’s decision also is astonishing as the country is still reeling with the aftermath of the forest fires that killed 92.

Related coverage: <a href="https://thegoldwater.com/news/32370-Greece-Death-Toll-Of-Athens-Fires-Nears-100-Whole-Villages-Burnt-Video">Greece death toll of Athens fires nears 100</a>.

Ms Dora Bakoyiannis, the former Greek Foreign Minister during the period of the attacks in the 1980s stated that it was incredible that the government would be busy transferring “the N17 serial killer to a luxury jail” when it should be busy with fire safety.

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The November 17 terrorist organization is held responsible for murdering 23 people. It was named to honor the student uprising on 17 November 1974 against the military dictatorship of Greece at the time.

Turkey stated via its state department that: “This has once again strengthened our doubts about the functioning of the judicial system in Greece. Granting tolerance to a terrorist disrespects the memory of our diplomats who were martyred and their families.”

Britain, who also saw several diplomats murdered by the group, has not yet reacted.

Source:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/231478/article/ekathimerini/news/another-november-17-convict-transferred-from-korydallos