June 6th and 7th hearings
The June 6th and 7th hearings were for the 250 attacks by the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire and the attempted escape of 2015. Witnesses for the defense were presented for some of the defendants.
For their part, the comrades Christos and Gerasimos Tsakalos, along with the comrades Giorgos Polydoros, Olga Economidou and Angeliki Spyropoulou attended the trial and refused to present witnesses for their defense as they have stated since day one that “for us the best ‘defense’ is the continuation of the action in the streets”.
Witnesses for the defense of the three relatives of the CCF comrades (Christos Polydoros, Evi Statiri and Athena Tsakalou) were also presented.
The statements of the witnesses focused on the criminalization of family relations and referred to cases that occurred during the dictatorship in Greece (1967-1974) in which rebels and insurgents were aided or given refuge to prevent being arrested by the Military Junta.
The prosecutor I. Koutras, know for his extreme right-wing views, at one point asked aloud: “here they come with witnesses and develop an ideology that there can be a world without prisons! But how is that possible?! Imagine how the world would be without prisons…it would be like saying that you can make an omelet without breaking eggs!!”
June 15th and 16th hearings.
On Wednesday the 15th and Thursday the 16th of June, the ‘apologies’ of those accused of the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire escape plan began after the completion of the statements for the defense where the CCF comrades and the comrade Angeliki Spyropoulou chose not to present witnesses for their defense.
In the judicial procedure of ‘apologies’ the defendants are expected to apologize to the court, however the CCF comrades and the comrade Angeliki used this instance to issue political statements.
On Wednesday, the comrades Olga Economidou, Giorgos Polydoros and Gerasimos Tsakalos made a joint political statement which referred to the escape plan, the actions of the organization and the persecution of their family members accused of ‘membership of a terrorist organization’, among other things.
The comrades Michalis Nikolopoulos and Panagiotis Argirou also made their own statement referring to the trial, the escape plan and strategies of the anarchist struggle.
The comrade Angeliki Spyropulou also made a political statement in which she claimed responsibility for participating in the CCF escape plan. The comrade also pointed out that the only way of annihilating the existential suffocation and the impositions of the dominant system is through the act of anarchist insurrection and urban guerrilla warfare.
At the end of the hearing, it was the turn of of C. Rodopoulos, who is accused of aiding the escape attempt, who denied all of the charges against him.
On Thursday the rest of the accused were heard. They all rejected the charges of belonging to a terrorist organization and of participation in the escape plan. Then Evi Statiri (wife of the comrade Gerasimos Tsakalos) and Christos Polydoros (brother of the comrade Giorgos Polydoros) both spoke. They both rejected the charges, pointing out that their prosecution and detention is a form of emotional blackmail for the support they have given their loved ones. They also pointed out that the accusations against them come with the risk of long prison sentences (10-20 years) all because they supported their loved ones. They also stated that they will continue to support them no matter what the costs.
Athena Tsakalou (mother of the comrades Gerasimos and Christos Tsakalos) has not been present for any of the trial hearings, but sent a statement referring to the exploitation and opression that exists in the world because of the dominant system. She also admitted offering refuge to the comrade Angeliki Spyropoulou while she was in clandestinity after the manhunt began following the discovery of the CCF escape plan. Finally, Athena Tsakalou pointed out giving refuge to Angeliki was for her a gesture of humanity towards someone who was being persecuted by the authorities.
The apologies ended on Friday and it is expected that trial will conclude within the next two weeks.
We transcend the borders with solidarity and insurrectionary action!
(via Sin Banderas Ni Fronteras, information collated from Mpalothia and Athens Indymedia, translated into English by Insurrection News)
