The decision of investigative judges Georgouleas and Papakostas to release of Golden Dawn MPs Kasidiaris, Panagiotaros and Michos came as a shock and surprise to many – even the Prime Minister – but legal experts appeared reserved. In the days leading up to the arrest of the four Golden Dawn MPs the media suggested that there was a slew of evidence to ‘lock them up for good’.
The court ruled that while the three MPs were to be released from custody, they had to pay 50,000 bail each, report to their local police department every month and are not allowed to leave the country. The courts decided against detention for two reasons, because the three MPs were not suspected to escape or commit new felonies.
In respect to the first reason, the three MPs surrendered themselves to the Police when the warrants were issued, rather than the police having to arrest them. As such, the relevant legislation cannot be applied. The second reason cited, that they were not suspected of committing further felonies, is more controversial. Furthermore the credibility of the witnesses has been doubted and Ilias Kasidiaris’ name is not apparent in the recorded telephone conversations.
According to the judges, they were not suspected of committing further felonies because “the organization was busted” and are under police surveillance. Legal experts challenge this notion though and accuse the judges of a “selective sensitivity” towards the ultra nationalists, since suspects accused of financial crimes, not even murder, are routinely detained.
While the Minister of Justice claimed that there is going to be a “fair trial” and the court investigation is still in a preliminary stage, Ilias Kasidiaris’ physical attack against reporters and a cameraman after his release yesterday did not seem to concern the judicial authorities.
