A court in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, sentenced a 59-year-old man, a self-proclaimed “national prosecutor” and “army general”, to 10 months suspended prison sentence and a fine of 500 euros.
The man presented himself on social media as “national prosecutor” and a career military man with hunting rifles at his possession which he would use to hurt people.
His posts on Facebook came to the attention of the Greek police Cyber Crime Division which saw that the 59-year-old was part of a conspiracy theorists group mostly active online, the “Guardians of the Constitution.”
Authorities reportedly located the man in a hotel room opposite the Court building in Thessaloniki, northern Greece. In his car with German license plates, a seal reading “general prosecutor” was found. The man was in possession of a rifle for which he had a license. Authorities launched procedures to cancel the license. He was arrested on February 6, 2024.
The group “Guardians of the Constitution” emerged at the end of 2021 as “extreme anti-vaxxers” who were calling for “armed struggle”, claiming to establish paramilitary groups aiming to take over the power in the country. They had threatened primarily teachers and attempted to abduct a school principal.
Before the court, the man testified that he was the member of a “community” which claims to defend the constitution, and that membership provides him with certain “official capacities.”
He appealed against the decision and was released.