Neo-Nazi Sentenced: After a court appearance that lasted several hours, the judge trying the case against Nikos Michaloliakos, former soldier and leader of the neofascist Golden Dawn (GD) party, sentenced him to life without parole, convicted of leading a criminal organization.
The accused described himself as a victim of political persecution and said he regretted the murder of young rapper Pavlos Fyssas, carried out by a GD member. He condemned violence in general terms and said that he was not a Nazi, although in the past he had publicly expressed his admiration for the German dictator Adolf Hitler.
Mijaloliakos said that he was unaware of criminal actions perpetrated by GD members since, he said, the activities of the party “have been within the limits of parliamentarian policy.”
The judge sentenced Mijaloliakos along with Yanis Lagos, the GD deputy, to prison, while three other legislators were freed on bail pending trial, charged with leading a criminal organization, murder, attacks, extortion and money laundering.