The educational leave inmate Nikos Romanos had requested was rejected again today and he continues his hunger strike for the 24th consecutive day at Gennimatas Hospital in Athens. On Tuesday night, thousands of Romanos’s supporters rioted in Athens, Greece , causing property damages and clashing with the police.
Romanos, who refuses to accept serum administration by doctors, also released a letter today accusing the Greek government and Justice Minister Charalambos Athanasiou of being responsible for his possible demise.
The letter is entitled “Dancing with death for 24 days,” accusing everyone responsible of “torture and murder of a political prisoner.” Romanos accuses Athanasiou for ordering the council of misdemeanor prosecutors to reject the leave request one day before they convened. He also accuses appeals judge Eftichis Nikopoulos of taking orders from justice ministry higher-ups and district attorney of Korydallos prison Evangelia Marsioni of rape for force-feeding him, an action that had caused the death of political prisoners in Spain and Germany. He also thanks the staff of Gennimatas Hospital for defying the district attorney’s orders to give him serum.
Romanos claims in his letter that authorities want to punish him for his ideals and that the technicalities of the whole educational leave fiasco are part of a government plan to exterminate him. To that he replies that he will fight until the end for victory or death.
The letter continues with a call to arms to fellow anarchists in Greece and asks them to riot on December 6, on the anniversary of his friend Alexandros Grigoropoulos‘ death by a police bullet in 2008. “Long live Anarchy!” he says, adding that it is worth dying for your dreams.
In a postscript, he accuses SYRIZA and other political powers as “merchants of hope” who try to capitalize on his struggle and refuses to endorse any of them.
Greek Justice Minister prepares new legislative framework allowing inmates to attend classes by mail or online
In a press conference on Wednesday, Athanasiou announced that a new legislative framework is in the works, which will allow inmates who have been admitted to universities and technological educational institutes to follow courses by mail or online.
He clarified that the three-member judicial council that rejected Romanos request could not do anything else because of the legislative framework currently in effect.
Athanasiou also asked Romanos’ parents to contact him, noting that he wants to give them explanations, but they do not return his calls.
Romanos, aged 21, has been on hunger strike since November 10 after he was refused a prison furlough to attend classes at a technical university. He is serving a 15-year-and-11-month sentence for bank robbery.
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