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| − | [[Image:Xrisi avgi.JPG|thumb|right|Chrysi Avyi's logo, featuring a [[Meander (art)|meander]] pattern.]]
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| − | '''Chrysi Avyi''' (in Greek: ''Χρυσή Αυγή''; English translation: '''Golden Dawn''') is a far right, neo-Nazi party in [[Greece]] led by [[Nikolaos Michaloliakos]]. ''Chrysi Avyi'' is also the name of a newspaper and a magazine published by that party.
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| − | The party espouses anti-capitalist, anti-Semitic, and anti-Turkish philosophies based partially on laws of ancient [[Sparta]]n society. The party advocates more radical policies regarding nationalism, immigration, and irridentism (including putsch-style methods) than other Greek far right, traditionalist groups such as the [[Hellenic Front]] and the [[Popular Orthodox Rally]]. Despite often being classified as a neo-Nazi party, Chysi Avyi claims the roots of its doctrine predate the National Socialist German Workers Party.
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| − | Chrysi Avyi never reached as high as 1% of the vote in a national election. It ceased political operations in [[2005]], and anti-fascists say it was absorbed by the similarly-small [[Patriotic Alliance]], which ceased operations after Michaloliakos withdrew support. In March 2007, Chrysi Avyi held its sixth congress, where party officials announced the resumption of their political activism.
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| − | The party's symbol is a red flag bearing a black [[Meander (art)|meander]] pattern with white trim. Other symbols adopted by Hrisi Avgi members are the [[national emblem of Greece]], the [[labrys]] and the Celtic cross.
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| − | ==History==
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| − | [[Image:HA1cover.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Cover of the 1st issue of the ''Chrysi Avyi'' magazine, December 1980.]]
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| − | In December 1980, [[Nikolaos Michaloliakos]] and a group of his supporters launched ''Chrysi Avyi'' magazine. Michaloliakos (a mathematician and former commando) had been active in far right politics for many years, and he had been arrested several times for politically-motivated offences.<ref name="Vima">[http://tovima.dolnet.gr/print_article.php?e=B&f=14562&m=A44&aa=1 11/9/2005 article] published in [[To Vima]].</ref><ref name="Michaloliakos">[http://www.ethniko.net/ironyouth/michaloliakos.htm Article about Michaloliakos] published on Hrisi Avgi's website.</ref><ref name="IosHist">[http://www.hri.org/E/1998/98-07-02.dir/keimena/greece/greece2.htm 2/07/1998 article] published in [[Eleftherotypia]] newspaper. (in Greek)</ref> While he was in prison, Michaloliakos met the leaders of the [[Greek military junta of 1967-1974]], and he laid the foundations of the Hrisi Avgi party.<ref name="Vima">[http://tovima.dolnet.gr/print_article.php?e=B&f=14562&m=A44&aa=1 11/9/2005 article] published in [[To Vima]].</ref> The characteristics of the magazine and the organisation were clearly National Socialist.<ref name="IosHist">[http://www.hri.org/E/1998/98-07-02.dir/keimena/greece/greece2.htm 2/07/1998 article] published in [[Eleftherotypia]] newspaper. (in Greek)</ref> ''Chrysi Avyi'' magazine stopped being published in April 1984, when Michaloliakos joined the [[National Political Union]] and took over the leadership of its youth section.<ref name="Vima">[http://tovima.dolnet.gr/print_article.php?e=B&f=14562&m=A44&aa=1 11/9/2005 article] published in [[To Vima]].</ref> In [[January 1985]], he broke away from the National Political Union and founded the Popular National Movement - Chrysi Avyi, which was officially recognised as a political party in 1993.<ref name="Vima">[http://tovima.dolnet.gr/print_article.php?e=B&f=14562&m=A44&aa=1 11/9/2005 article] published in [[To Vima]].</ref>
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| − | Chrysi Avyi had remained largely on the margins of far right politics until the [[Macedonia naming dispute]] in [[1991]] and [[1992]].<ref name="IosHist"/> The left-leaning newspaper [[Eleftherotypia]] reported that on [[October]] 10, 1992, about thirty Chrysi Avyi members attacked left wing students at the [[Athens University of Economics and Business]] during a massive demonstration against the usage of the name ''Macedonia'' by [[The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]].<ref name="IosASOEE">[http://www.iospress.gr/ios1998/ios19980927b.htm 27/9/1998 article] published in [[Eleftherotypia]]. (in Greek)</ref> Around the same time, the first far right street [[gangs]] appeared under the leadership of Giannis Giannopoulos, a former military officer who was involved with the [[South African]] [[Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging]] (AWB) during the [[1980s]].<ref name="IosHist"/> After the events of 1991 and 1992, Chrysi Avyi had gained a stable membership of more than 200 members, and Giannopoulos rose within the party hierarchy.<ref name="IosHist">[http://www.hri.org/E/1998/98-07-02.dir/keimena/greece/greece2.htm 2/07/1998 article] published in [[Eleftherotypia]].</ref> Chrysi Avyi ran in the [[European Parliament election, 1994 (Greece)|1994 European Parliament election]], gaining 7.264 votes nationwide; 0.11% of the votes cast.<ref name="NIGMA">[http://www.nygma.gr/mag/articles/Article.asp?ar_id=718 Article published in "NIGMA" magazine] about Chrysi Avyi. (in Greek)</ref>
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| − | A few Chrysi Avyi members participated in the [[Bosnian War]] in the Greek Volunteer Guard (GVG), which was part of the Drina Corps of the Army of Republika Srpska. A few GVG volunteers were present in Srebrenica during the Srebrenica massacre, and they raised a [[Flag of Greece|Greek flag]] at a ruined church after the fall of the town.<ref name="Michas">Michas, Takis;"Unholy Alliance", Texas A&M University Press: Eastern European Studies (College Station, Tex.) pp. 22 [http://www.preventgenocide.org/edu/pastgenocides/formeryugoslavia/resources/]</ref> Spiros Tzanopoulos, a GVG sergeant who took part in the attack against Srebrenica, said many of the Greek volunteers participated in the war because they were members of Hrisi Avgi.<ref name="srebr">[http://www.enet.gr/online/online_fpage_text?id=13996864,21821632,8195520%22 16/07/2005 article] in Eleftherotypia. (in Greek)</ref> Chrysi Avyi members in the GVG were decorated by Radovan Karadžić, but — according to former Chrysi Avyi member Charis Kousoumvris — those who were decorated later left the party.<ref name="srebr"/>
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| − | In April 1996, Giannopoulos represented the party at a pan-European convention of nationalist parties in Moscow, where he presented a bust of [[Alexander the Great]] to Liberal Democratic Party of Russia leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky for his birthday.<ref name="IosHist">[http://www.hri.org/E/1998/98-07-02.dir/keimena/greece/greece2.htm 2/07/1998 article] in [[Eleftherotypia]].</ref> Chrysi Avyi participated in the [[Greek legislative election, 1996|1996 legislative election]] in September, receiving 4,487 votes nationwide; 0.07% of the votes cast.<ref name="1996elections">[http://www.ypes.gr/ekloges/content/gr/ethnik_fr.htm Results] of the 1996 legislative election.</ref> In October 1997, Giannopoulos published an article in ''Chrysi Avyi'' magazine calling for nationalist vigilantism against illegal immigrants and left wingers.<ref name="IosGiannopoulos">1998 article in [[Eleftherotypia]].</ref> In [[1998]], a prominent party member, Antonios Androutsopoulos, assaulted left wing student activist [[Dimitris Kousouris]]. The resulting media attention, along with internal party conflicts (due to poor results in the [[1996]] elections), led some of its most extreme members (such as Giannopoulos) to gradually fade from official party affairs.<ref name="IosHist"/>
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| − | Chrysi Avyi continued to hold rallies and marches, and it ran in the 1999 European Parliament election in an alliance with the Front Line party, gaining 48,532 votes nationwide; 0.75% of the votes cast.<ref name="IosHist"/><ref name="HAelections">[http://www.hri.org/MPA/gr/other/elections99/other_parties.html "Ta alla Kommata"], [[Macedonian Press Agency]] information on the 1999 elections.</ref> Eleftherotypia criticicized Chrysi Avyi in [[2005]] after party members distributed [[Homophobia|homophobic]] fliers during an Athens [[gay pride parade]].<ref name="gayParade2006">[http://www.enet.gr/online/online_text?c=112&id=61462048 27/06/2005 article] in [[Eleftherotypia]]</ref>
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| − | ====2005-2007====
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| − | According to Chrysi Avyi's leader, Nikolaos Michaloliakos, the party paused its own autonomous political activities after December 1, 2005, due to clashes with anti-fascists.<ref name="Ingr">[http://www.in.gr/news/article.asp?lngEntityID=667563&lngDtrID=244 01/12/05 article] in [http://www.in.gr www.in.gr] (in Greek)</ref> Chrysi Avyi members had been instructed to continue their activism within the [[Patriotic Alliance]] party, which was very closely linked to Chrysi Avyi.<ref name="ENF_disbandment">[http://www.europeannationalfront.org/?p=21#more-21 ''Golden Dawn stops their activities''], European National Front website</ref> <ref name="HApatris">[http://www.symmaxia.gr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=1 Article in the website of Patriotic Alliance], stating that "those who contributed mostly in our political campaign were the youth of Chrysi Avyi".</ref> The former leader of Patriotic Alliance, Dimitrios Zaphiropoulos, was once a member of Chrysi Avyi's political council, and Michaloliakos was also a current leading member of Patriotic Alliance.<ref name="Vima">[http://tovima.dolnet.gr/print_article.php?e=B&f=14562&m=A44&aa=1 11/9/2005 article] from [[To Vima]].</ref> Anti-fascist groups have accused Patriotic Alliance of simply being the new name of Chrysi Avyi's.<ref name="HApatrisIos">[http://www.iospress.gr/mikro2006/mikro20060513.htm Article] in Eleftherotypia.</ref> Activities by Patriotic Alliance's members were often attributed to Hrisi Avgi (even by themselves), creating confusion.<ref name="HApatris">[http://www.symmaxia.gr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=1 Article in the website of Patriotic Alliance], stating that "those who contributed mostly in our political campaign were the youth of Chrysi Avyi".</ref> This is the main reason Chrysi Avyi's members announced the withdrawal of their support to Patriotic Alliance, which eventually led to the interruption of this party’s political activities.<ref name="PATRISdisbandment">[http://www.xrushaugh.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=210&Itemid=31 Chrysi Avyi announces] the withdrawal of their support to Patriotic Alliance.</ref> <ref name="IndymediaPATRIS">[http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=637975 News of the disbandment of Patriotic Alliance], in [[Independent Media Center]].</ref> As of 2007, the Chrysi Avyi's newspaper and magazine continued to be published, and accordingly the organisation's website was being updated.
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| − | In March 2007, Chrysi Avyi held its sixth congress and announced the continuation of their political and ideological activism.<ref name="mun. El ."> .">[ http://www.xrushaugh.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=299&Itemid=31 12.05.07 Michaloliaco’s speech during the congress]. (in Greek)</ref>
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| − | ==Activities==
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| − | [[Image:HA610.jpg|thumb|left|280px|Cover of the February 7 issue of the ''Chrysi Avyi'' newspaper, featuring the [[January 2007]] march led by the party in memory of three Greek officers who died during the 1996 [[Imia|Imia military crisis]].]]
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| − | Chrysi Avyi claimed to have local organisations in thirty-two Greek cities, as well as in [[Cyprus]].<ref name="HAactivities">[http://ta-nea.dolnet.gr/print_article.php?e=A&f=17333&m=N10&aa=1 11/5/2002 article] in newspaper [[Ta Nea]], about Chrysi Avyi's activities. (in Greek)</ref>
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| − | The party created the ''Epitropi Ethnikis Mnimis'' (''Committee of National Memory''), to organise demonstrations commemorating the anniversaries of certain Greek national events. Epitropi Ethnikis Mninis has organized annual marches on January 31 in [[Athens]], in memory of three Greek officers who died during the 1996 [[Imia|Imia military crisis]]. According to the European National Front website, the 2006 march was attended by 2,500 people, although no neutral sources have confirmed that number.<ref name="ImiaMarch2006">[http://www.europeannationalfront.org/?p=25 ''ENF gathers in Athens''] from the European [[National Front]] website.</ref> Epitropi Ethnikis Mninis has continued its activities, and the January 31 March took place in 2007.<ref name="Imia">[http://www.xrushaugh.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=200&Itemid=31 Report of the 2007 march]</ref>
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| − | Epitropi Ethnikis Mnimis has organized annual rallies on June 17 in [[Thessalonica]], in memory of [[Alexander The Great]].<ref name="48arrested">[http://www.europeannationalfront.org/?p=30 ''48 Greek nationalists arrested''] from the European National Front website</ref> Police confronted the 2006 rally participants, forcing Chrysi Avyi and Patriotic Alliance members to leave the area, while anti-fascist and leftist groups took over the square where the nationalist event was supposed to take place, causing damage and vandalisms.<ref name="48arrested">[http://www.europeannationalfront.org/?p=30 48 Greek nationalists arrested] from the European National Front website</ref><ref name="Thessalia">[http://www.e-thessalia.gr/newsfeed.asp?Fv1=2&Fv2=18/6/2006&Fv3=2006&Fv4=105946 18/6/06 article] in newspaper Thessalia (in Greek)</ref> Later that day, Chrysi Avyi members gathered in the building of [[Public ownership|state-owned]] [[television]] channel [[ERT3]] and protesting they tried to stop the channel from broadcasting.<ref name="Thessalia">[http://www.e-thessalia.gr/newsfeed.asp?Fv1=2&Fv2=18/6/2006&Fv3=2006&Fv4=105946 18/6/06 article] by newspaper Thessalia</ref> Police surrounded the building and arrested 48 Hrisi Avgi members.<ref name="48arrested">[http://www.europeannationalfront.org/?p=30 48 Greek nationalists arrested] from the European National Front website</ref><ref name="Thessalia">[http://www.e-thessalia.gr/newsfeed.asp?Fv1=2&Fv2=18/6/2006&Fv3=2006&Fv4=105946 18/6/06 article] by newspaper Thessalia</ref> According to a Hrisi Avgi press release, those members were carrying Greek national flags which in court were considered to be "arms" and so they were found guilty of carrying them. They were condemned up to six and seven months imprisonment with suspension and were also fined €500.<ref name="HApress">[http://www.xrushaugh.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=31 Hrisi Avgi's press release] (in Greek)</ref>
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| − | In September 2005, Chrysi Avyi attempted to organise a festival called ''"Eurofest 2005 - Nationalist Summer Camp"'' at the grounds of a Greek summer camp. The planned festival depended on the participation of the German National Democratic Party of Germany, the Italian Forza Nuova and the Romanian Noua Dreapta, as well as Spanish and American neo-Nazi groups. The festival was banned by the government, largely because of the reaction of Anti-fascism|anti-fascist groups.<ref name="In.grEurofest">[http://www.in.gr/news/article.asp?lngEntityID=650331 22/12/06 article] in in.gr (in Greek)</ref><ref name="XApress">[http://www.xrushaugh.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=31 Hrisi Avgi press release] (in Greek)</ref>
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| − | In June 2007, Chrysi Avyi sent representatives to protest the [[G8]] convention in Germany, together with the [[National Democratic Party of Germany]] and other European neo-Nazi organisations.<ref name=" Hrisi Avgi’s anti globalisation attendance against G8 convention in Germany">[ http://www.xrushaugh.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=320&Itemid=31] Hrisi Avgi’s anti globalisation attendance against G8 convention in Germany (in Greek)</ref>
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| − | ===Youth Front===
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| − | Chrysi Avyi's Youth Front has organised activities such as distributing fliers with [[Racism|racist]] messages in [[Athens]] schools and organising White power concerts. The Youth Front also publishes the White Nationalist magazine ''Resistance Hellas-Antepithesi'', which promotes neo-Nazi ideas to young people through music and sports topics. The magazine is a sister publication of the United States-based National Alliance's ''Resistance'' magazine.<ref>[http://www.natall.com/adv/2006/03-04-06.html According to Shaun Walker, former chairman of the National Alliance]</ref> This collaboration between [[Greece|Greek]] nationalists and American racialists began in 2001, after National Alliance founder William Luther Pierce visited Thessalonica, Greece. Pierce's succesor, Erich Gliebe, ratified the collaboration after Pierce's death.
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| − | ==Ideology==
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| − | Chrysi Avyi described itself as a "Popular Nationalist Movement" and "uncompromising Nationalists."<ref name="MichaloliakosInterview">2006 interview of Michaloliakos published in ''Eleytheros Kosmos'' newspaper.</ref> Its former website demonstrates both its nationalist and populist character.<ref name="oldsite">[http://clubs.pathfinder.gr/kynaigeiros2/307050 From the former website of Chrysi Avyi] </ref> Party leader [[Nikolaos Michaloliakos]] described Chrysi Avyi as opposing the "so-called Enlightenment" and the Industrial Revolution, while supporting National Socialism.<ref name="MichaloliakosInterview"/><ref name="IosHist"/> According to the party's charter, "only Aryans in blood and [[Greeks]] in descent can be candidate members of Chrysi Avyi".<ref name="IosHist"/> The charter also puts the leader in dictatorial control of the party, and formalizes the use of the [[Roman salute]] for party members.<ref name="IosHist"/> At first, the party embraced [[Neopaganism|neo-Pagan]] beliefs, believing them to be intermingled with National Socialism in accordance to Nazi occultism, describing Marxism and liberalism as "the ideological carriers of Judeo-Christianity.<ref name="ReligionXA">''Our Ideology: God Religion'' (''Η Ιδεολογία Μας: Θεός-θρησκεία''), Chrysi Avyi's newspaper, issue 57, October 1990</ref> Later, however, the party underwent ideological changes, accepting [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox Christianity]].<ref name="Ios2000">[http://www.iospress.gr/ios2000/ios20000618b.htm 18/6/2000 article] in Eleftherotypia (in Greek)</ref>
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| − | ==Violence by and against Hrisi Avgi==
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| − | [[Image:Olympiongc9.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Violent confrontation between anarchists and Chrysi Avyi members, in Thessalonica at [[2002]].]]
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| − | Members of Chrysi Avyi have been accused of carrying out acts of violence and hate crimes against immigrants, political opponents and [[Minorities in Greece|ethnic minorities]].<ref name="Ios1.2.1998">[http://www.iospress.gr/extra/xrisavgi-1.htm Eleytherotypia's article] about attacks by Hrisi Avgi. (in Greek)</ref> Hrisi Avgi's offices have been attacked many times by [[Anarchism in Greece|anarchists]] and anti-fascists.<ref name="XApress">[http://www.xrushaugh.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=31 Hrisi Avgi press release] (in Greek)</ref><ref name="Ingr20.11">[http://www.in.gr/news/article.asp?lngEntityID=664890 20/11/05 article] in in.gr (in Greek)</ref> Clashes between members of Hrisi Avgi and anti-fascists have not been unusual.<ref name="Ingr17.09">[http://www.in.gr/news/article.asp?lngEntityID=650422 17/09/05 article] in in.gr (in Greek)</ref>
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| − | In January 1998, Alexis Kalofolias, vocalist of the band [[The Last Drive]], was attacked and suffered permanent damage to his right eye, losing 2% of his eyesight.<ref name="Ios1.2.1998"/><ref name="KLIK">[http://www.klik.gr/136/aygi/index3.htm Article in magazine KLIK](in Greek)</ref> ''KLIK'' magazine and [[Eleftherotypia]] reported that members of Hrisi Avgi were responsible for the attack.<ref name="Ios1.2.1998"/><ref name="KLIK"/>
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| − | In 2000, unknown suspects vandalized the Monastirioton [[synagogue]], a memorial for Holocaust victims and Jewish cemeteries in Thessaloniki and [[Athens]].<ref name="JewVandalism">[http://www.ce-review.org/00/22/greecenews22.html ''Central European Review'' - "Anti-Jewish Attacks"]</ref> According to anti-fascist groups, Hrisi Avgi's symbols were present at all four sites.<ref name="JewVandalism">[http://www.ce-review.org/00/22/greecenews22.html ''Central European Review'' - "Anti-Jewish Attacks"]</ref> The ''KIS'', the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece, the [[Synaspismos|Coalition of the Left, of Movements and Ecology]], the [[Greek Helsinki Monitor]] and others issued statements condemning these acts.<ref name="KISnews">[http://www.kis.gr/news1previous.html Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece press release] (in Greek). Also contains photographs of the dececrations.</ref><ref name="GHM">[http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/greek/pressrelease/22-4-2000.html Greek Helsinki Monitor press release] (in Greek)</ref> The Cyprus chapter of Hrisi Avgi has been accused of attacks against [[Turkish Cypriots]], and one member was arrested for attacking Turkish-Cypriots in 2005.<ref name="Cyprus">[http://www.trncinfo.com/TANITMADAIRESI/2002/ENGLISH/SOUTHCYPRUS/p101105.htm ''trncinfo.com'' - "Fanatic Hrisi Avgi member released."]</ref>
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| − | In November 2005, Chrysi Avyi's offices were attacked by a group of anti-fascists with molotov cocktails and stones. Unknown perpetrators responded to the anti-fascists with gunshots, and two people (who testified that they were just passing by) were injured.<ref name="Ingr20.11">[http://www.in.gr/news/article.asp?lngEntityID=664890 20/11/05 article] from in.gr (in Greek)</ref> According to Chrysi Avyi, three suspects were arrested and set free.<ref name="XApress"/> During the subsequent police investigation, molotov cocktails left overs were discovered in Hrisi Avgi's offices.<ref name="Ingr20.11"/> Hrisi Avgi has stated that this was the reason for the organisation's disbandment.<ref name="Ingr">[http://www.in.gr/news/article.asp?lngEntityID=667563&lngDtrID=244 01/12/05 article] by [http://www.in.gr www.in.gr] (in Greek)</ref><ref name="ENF_disbandment">[http://www.europeannationalfront.org/?p=21#more-21 Golden Dawn stops their activities], European National Front website</ref>
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| − | In June 2006, three members of Chrysi Avyi were attacked and severely injured by anarchists in [[Galatsi]], [[Athens]].<ref name="ENF32">[http://www.europeannationalfront.org/?p=32#more-32 ''Assassination attempt against 3 young nationalists in Athens''], European National Front website</ref><ref name="XApress2">[http://www.xrushaugh.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=31 04/08/06 Hrisi Avgi press release], contains an article from a Greek mainstream newspaper, Vradini. (in Greek)</ref> One of the Hrisi Avgi members ended up in a coma for three weeks, and was a suspect for injuring a police officer a month earlier.<ref name="XApress2">[http://www.xrushaugh.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=31 04/08/06 Hrisi Avgi press release], contains an article by a Greek mainstream newspaper, Vradini.</ref>
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| − | ===Football hooliganism===
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| − | In 2000, Chrysi Avyi members formed the hooligan firm ''Galazia Stratia'' (Greek for "Blue Army"), which has described itself as a "fan club of the Greek national teams." It has been reported that following Chrysi Avyi's official disbandment in 2005, many former party members have put most of their energy into promoting Galazia Stratia.<ref name="Mundohooligans">[http://www.enet.gr/online/online_text/c=112,id=95908980 10/9/2006 article] in Eleftherotypia (in Greek)</ref> Galazia Stratia is closely linked to Chrysi Avyi, and the two groups shared the same street address.<ref name="NaziHooligan">[http://www.iospress.gr/mikro2001/mikro20011201.htm Nazis dressed up as fans], ''Eleftherotypia 1/12/2001''</ref> Hrisi Avgi made no attempt to deny the connections, openly praising the actions of Galazia Stratia in its newspaper, and accepting praise in return from the firm.<ref name="GSthanksHA">[http://www.meandros.net/galazia-stratia/pages/syndesmos.htm Galazia Stratia thanking Chrysi Avyi for the support]</ref>
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| − | Galazia Stratia and Hrisi Avgi have been accused of various acts of sports-related violence.<ref name="Hooliganism">[http://www.hippolytic.com/0102/insurgency_briefs_2.html ''The Yale Hippolytic'' - "More Than Just a Game"]</ref><ref name="NaziHooligan">[http://www.iospress.gr/mikro2001/mikro20011201.htm Nazis dressed up as fans], ''Eleftherotypia 1/12/2001''</ref> In September 2004, after a football match between Greece and Albania in Tirana (in which Greece lost 2-1), Albanian hooligans set fire on a Greek flag, and violence erupted against Albanian immigrants in various parts of Greece. Anti-fascist groups held Hrisi Avgi and Galazia Stratia directly responsible for the attacks.<ref name="Hooliganism">[http://www.hippolytic.com/0102/insurgency_briefs_2.html ''The Yale Hippolytic'' - "More Than Just a Game"]</ref> According to Eleftherotypia, Galazia Stratia members severely beat a young [[Palestinian]] and an elderly [[Bangladeshi]] during celebrations following the success of the [[Greece national basketball team|Greek national basketball team]] at the [[2006 FIBA World Championship]].<ref name="Mundohooligans"/>
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| − | ===The ''Periandros'' case===
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| − | Antonios Androutsopoulos (better known as ''Periandros''), a prominent member of Hrisi Avgi, was on the run from 1998 to September 14, 2005 after being accused of the June 16, 1998 attempted murder of three left-wing students — including Dimitris Kousouris, who was heavily injured.<ref name="TaNea">[http://ta-nea.dolnet.gr/print_article.php?e=A&f=17916&m=N23&aa=1 17/04/2004 article] in [[Ta Nea]] (in Greek)</ref><ref name="Kathimerini"> [http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100019_14/09/2005_60740 14/09/2005 article] in newspaper [[Kathimerini]]</ref><ref name="Eleftherotypia">[http://www.enet.gr/online/online_text?c=112&id=34783000 14/09/2005 article] in [[Eleftherotypia]] (in Greek)</ref> Androutsopoulos had been sentenced [[in absentia]] to four years of prison for illegal weapon possession while the attempted murder charges against him were still standing.<ref name="Kathimerini2">[http://news.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_ell_786829_27/04/2004_101892 27/04/2004 article] in [[Kathimerini]] (in Greek)</ref>
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| − | The authorities' failure to apprehend Androutsopoulos for seven years raised criticisms by the Greek media. A ''[[Ta Nea]]'' article claimed that Periandros remained in Greece and evaded arrest due to connections with the police.<ref name="TaNea"/> In a 2004 interview, Michalis Chrysochoidis, the former minister of public order of [[PASOK]], claimed that such accusations were unfounded, and he blamed the inefficiency of the Greek police. Some allege that Androutsopoulos had evaded arrest because he had been residing in [[Venezuela]] until he turned himself in 2005.<ref name="Kathimerini3">[http://news.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_ell_280400_14/09/2005_156652 14/09/2005 article] in [[Kathimerini]] (in Greek)</ref> His trial began on September 20, 2006, and he was convicted to 21 years in prison on September 25, 2006.<ref name="PeriConvElefth">[http://www.enet.gr/online/online_text/c=112,id=84914692 29/09/06 article] in Eleftherotypia (in Greek)</ref><ref name="PeriConv06">[http://www.in.gr/news/article.asp?lngEntityID=741411&lngDtrID=244 25/09/06 article] in in.gr (in Greek)</ref> Hrisi Avgi members were present in his trial, shouting nationalist slogans.<ref name="PeriConvElefth">[http://www.enet.gr/online/online_text/c=112,id=84914692 29/09/06 article] in Eleftherotypia (in Greek)</ref>
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| − | ==Allegations of connections to the Greek Police==
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| − | [[Image:HAvitsi.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Chrysi Avyi members at a 2003 rally marking anniversary of [[Hellenic Army|Hellenic Army's]] victory against the communist [[Democratic Army of Greece]] in the [[Greek Civil War]] battle of Grammos-Vitsi.]]
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| − | In a 1998 interview with the newspaper [[Eleftherotypia]], Georgios Romaios (the [[Minister for Public Order|minister of public order]] at the time) alleged the existence of "fascist elements in the [[Greek police]]", and vowed to suppress them.<ref name="Romaios">[http://www.hri.org/news/grpapers/typos/1998/98-06-29.typos.html Athens News Agency: Press Review in Greek, 98-06-29]</ref> In a TV interview that same year, Romaios again claimed that there was a pro-fascist group within the police force although he said it was not organized, and was only involved in isolated incidents.<ref name="Ios98_3">[http://www.iospress.gr/ios1998/ios19980927c.htm Eleftherotypia's article] part 3 (in Greek)</ref> The same year, Eleftherotypia published a lengthy article called "The lower limbs of the police", which outlined connections between the police and [[Neo-Fascism|neo-fascists]].<ref name="Ios98_1">[http://www.iospress.gr/ios1998/ios19980927c.htm Eleftherotypia article] part 1 (in Greek)</ref> Dimitris Reppas, the [[PASOK]] [[Minister for the Press and the Media (Greece)|government spokesman]], strongly denied such connections. However, the article quoted a speech by [[PASOK]] [[Hellenic Parliament|Member of Parliament]] Paraskevas Paraskevopoulos about a riot caused by [[Right-wing politics|right wing]] extremists, in which he said:
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| − | <blockquote>
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| − | ''In Thessaloniki it is widely discussed that far-right organisations are active in the security forces. Members of such organisations were the planners and chief executioners of the riot and nobody was arrested. A Special Forces officer, speaking at a briefing of Special Forces policemen that where to be on duty that day, told the policemen not to arrest anyone because the rioters were not enemies and threatened that should this be overlooked there would be penalties.''
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| − | <ref name="Ios98_3"/></blockquote>
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| − | Before the surrender of Androutsopoulos, an article by the newspaper [[Ta Nea]] claimed that the Hrisi Avgi had close relationships with some parts of the Greek police force.<ref name="TaNea"/> In relation to the Periandros case, the article quoted an unidentified police officer who said that "half the force wanted Periandros arrested and the other half didn't". The article claimed that there was a confidential internal police investigation which concluded that:
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| − | #Chrysi Avyi had very good relations and contacts with officers of the force, on and off duty, as well as with common policemen.
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| − | #The police provided the group with [[Club (weapon)|baton]]s and radio communications equipment during mass demonstrations, mainly during celebrations of the [[Athens Polytechnic uprising]] and during rallies by left-wing and anarchist groups, in order to provoke riots.
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| − | #The connections of the group with the force, as well as connections with Periandros, largely delayed his arrest.
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| − | #The brother of "Periandros", also a member of Hrisi Avgi, was a security escort of an unnamed [[New Democracy (Greece)|New Democracy]] MP.
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| − | #Most Chrysi Avyi members were illegally [[Carrying concealed weapon|carrying weapons]].
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| − | The newspaper published a photograph of a typewritten paragraph with no identifiable insignia as evidence of the secret investigation.<ref name=TaNeaGif">[http://ta-nea.dolnet.gr/data/D2004/D0417/1el23c.gif Image from the article] of [[Ta Nea]]</ref> In the article, the minister of public order, Michalis Chrysochoidis, responded that he did not recollect such a probe. Chrysochoidis also denied accusations that far right connections within the police force delayed the arrest of Periandros. He said that leftist groups, including the terrorist group [[Revolutionary Organization 17 November|17 November]], responsible for several murders, had similarly evaded the police for decades. In both cases, he attributed the failures to "stupidity and incompetence" on behalf of the force.<ref name="TaNea"/>
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| − | Chrysi Avyi claims that rumours about the organisation having connections to the Greek police and the government were untrue, and said that the police had intervened in Hrisi Avgi's rallies and had arrested some its members many times while the [[New Democracy (Greece)|New Democracy]] party was in power (for example, during the rally in Thessaloniki, in June 2006, and in a rally for the anniversary of the [[Pontian Greek Genocide]], in Athens, again in 2006).<ref name="XApress">[http://www.xrushaugh.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=31 Hrisi Avgi press release] (in Greek)</ref> Also, in [[January]] the 22nd of the year [[2005]], [[anti-fascist]] and [[leftist]] groups invaded Hrisi Avgi's headquarters in Thesaloniki, under heavy police surveillance. Although police Units who are responsible for the re-establishment of order where near to the intruders, they did not try to prevent any movement of theirs. Instead they became anarchists' escort up to the university of Thessaloniki. This incident was recorded by mainstream television stations. <ref>http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=314801 </ref> <ref>http://bulgaria.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/1814/index.php </ref>
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| − | ==See also==
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| − | * [[Nikolaos Michaloliakos]]
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| − | * [[Patriotic Alliance]]
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| − | * [[Neo-Nazism#Neo-Nazism in Greece|Neo-Nazism in Greece]]
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| − | * [[History of the Jews in Greece#Anti-Semitism in Greece|Anti-Semitism in Greece]]
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| − | ==Footnotes==
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| − | <!--This section uses the Cite.php citation mechanism. If you would like more information on how to add references to this article, please see http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cite/Cite.php -->
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| − | <div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
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| − | <references /></div>
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| − | {{credit wikipedia}}
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| − | ==External links==
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| − | * [http://www.xrushaugh.org/ Official website of Hrisi Avgi]
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| − | * [http://www.antepithesh.net/ Official website of Hrisi Avgi's Youth Front and ''Resistance Hellas-Antepithesi'' magazine]
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| − | [[Category:Antisemitism]]
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| − | [[Category:Greek-language newspapers]]
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| − | [[Category:Greek magazines]]
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| − | [[Category:Nationalist parties in Greece]]
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| − | [[Category:Neo-Nazi organizations]]
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| − | [[Category:Newspapers published in Greece]]
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| − | [[Category:Publications established in 1980]]
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| − | [[Category:Nationalism]]
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| − | [[Category:Fascism]]
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| − | [[Category:Political parties established in 1993]]
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| − | [[el:Χρυσή Αυγή]]
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