Golden Dawn MP Sues Victims, TV Station and Journalist Over Punch-up and Water-Throwing

Ilia Kasidiaris, the spokesman of extreme-right Golden Dawn and MP for 48 hours after May 6 elections, finally appeared before the prosecutor: In order to file suits against punch-victim KKE-MP Liana Kanelli and water-victim SYRIZA-MP Rena Dourou. Further he filed tow more suits against TV station and programme host ANT1 as well as against journalist Antonis Delatolas, also a panellist on Thursday morning.

Kasidiaris submitted his lawsuits in the company of seven GD men.

Chrysi Avgi (Golden Dawn) spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris filed suits on Monday against the two parliamentary candidates he attacked last week during a TV panel discussion.

Kasidiaris accused Liana Kanelli of the Communist Party (KKE), who he punched three times, and SYRIZA’s Rena Dourou, who he drenched in water, of unprovoked verbal abuses.

The Golden Dawn representative also sued Antenna TV, which hosted the program, of attempting to hold him against his wishes and journalist Antonis Delatolas, who was on the panel, of abuse of power.

Kasidiaris claims that Delatolas called first instance prosecutor Eleni Raikou to ask her to issue an arrest warrant and alleges that the journalist was on unusually friendly terms with the judicial official.

An arrest warrant had been issued for Kasidiaris after the incident on live TV but police were not able to track him down in the 48 hours needed so he could be fastracked through the justice system.

Kasidiaris issued a statement over the weekend saying the incident had been staged with the aim of making him and Golden Dawn look bad. (ekathimerini)

Delatolas was heard speaking on the phone during the TV show saying ‘…..my Eleni”. The journalist says he was speaking to his secretary, while Kasidiaris claims he was speaking to prosecutor whose first name is also “Eleni”.

Kasidiaris also demanded the lifting of the privacy of the telephone records of Delatolas and prosecutor Raikou.

More Cases Open

Kasidiaris was due to appear in court on Monday to face charges of being an accomplice in a violent attack on a Physics Professor in 2007. Kasidiaris denies driving the car that carried the victim’s attackers.

The case, however, was postponed until September 3 as his lawyer was not able to be present due to another case outside Athens. The case is in danger to be ‘written off’ due to ‘five years prosecution limitation’.

8 GD members Detained for Beating Man, 53

A parliamentary candidate for Chrysi Avgi (Golden Dawn) and seven of the neo-Nazi party’s supporters are to face a court in Veria, northern Greece, on Monday after being arrested for attacking political opponents at a cafe in the city on Saturday.

Police said the eight suspects had a run-in with self-styled anarchists when they were distributing election leaflets on Saturday. The two factions were separated by police but the Golden Dawn supporters later attacked the anarchists at a cafe.

Six people were injured in the attack. A 53-year-old man had to be taken to the hospital. The cafe was also damaged. The eight suspects face charges of grievous bodily harm and damaging property. (ekathimerini)

Their trial has been postponed for June 13 in order for the accused to prepare their defense.

 PS What would be the future of Kasidiaris’ political career had the trial continued or even ended before the June 17 elections? Should Kasidiaris be elected MP on June 17 he will be protected under MPs immunity law. In order for this to be lifted, a parliament voting is necessary.