(GHM/IFEX) – A journalist was sentenced to jail in Greece on 19 May 1999. On 19 May, journalist Charalambos Triantafyllidis, editor and publisher of the weekly “Enimerosi” (in Florina, NW Greece), was convicted by the three-member Appeals Court in Kozani, and given a five-month suspended prison sentence for insulting Florina’s then prefect-elect Pavlos Altanis, on […]
(GHM/IFEX) – A journalist was sentenced to jail in Greece on 19 May 1999.
On 19 May, journalist Charalambos Triantafyllidis, editor and publisher of
the weekly “Enimerosi” (in Florina, NW Greece), was convicted by the
three-member Appeals Court in Kozani, and given a five-month suspended
prison sentence for insulting Florina’s then prefect-elect Pavlos Altanis,
on 11 November 1998. According to GHM, the incriminating text was nothing
more than strong criticism of the alleged clientelistic and revengeful
actions of the newly elected prefect and had no outright insulting
characteristics that could stand in a fair court. Triantafyllidis was also
convicted to a fine of 500,000 drs. (approx. US$1,635) for damages.
It is noteworthy that, in the first instance, a three-member Misdemeanor
Court of Florina had convicted Triantafyllidis to a twelve-month suspended
sentence and 10 million drs (approx. US$32,700) for damages, aggravated
defamation and insult of authority.
Given the high cost for a small provincial newspaper to appeal to the
Supreme Court and then either to the European Court of Human Rights or, if
vindicated by the Supreme Court, go through a possible second appeals trial,
Triantafyllidis told GHM that he regretfully opted not to use that venue.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
journalists of provincial newspapers for nothing more than harsh criticism
of local officials, convictions that have a clearly intimidating effect on
freedom of speech
the
world that press offences should be dealt with in the civil code. Anybody
who feels wrongfully harmed can seek redress through the civil courts in the
form of a retraction, apology or compensatory payment for demonstrable
damages.
impede the free flow of ideas and opinions is quite plainly not compatible
with democratic principles
Appeals To
George Papandreou
Foreign Minister
Athens, Greece
Fax: +30 1 368 1433Dimitris Reppas
Minister of Press and Information
Athens, Greece
Fax: +30 1 3606969Evangelos Yannopoulos
Minister of Justice
Athens, Greece
Fax : +30 1 77 55 835
Please copy your appeals to GHM.
