An appellate court decision allowing the conditional release of Alexandros Giotopoulos, the convicted leader of the now-defunct militant group November 17, is under review by a senior prosecutor, officials said.
The Appeals Council of Piraeus granted the 82-year-old Giotopoulos early release after roughly 24 years in custody, according to court documents and judicial officials. However, Deputy Supreme Court Prosecutor Sofoklis Logothetis has requested the full ruling for review to determine whether to seek annulment, following an order from Supreme Court Prosecutor Konstantinos Tzavellas. A decision is expected soon, officials told Kathimerini.
Giotopoulos, widely described by prosecutors as the mastermind of the group, submitted his fifth request for release in October 2025 after four prior applications were rejected. The panel that approved his release had previously endorsed a negative prosecutorial recommendation, according to court sources, but the appeals court ultimately ruled in his favor.
Separate police sources said Giotopoulos was released Thursday from Korydallos Prison in Athens following the court decision. They said his release includes conditions requiring him to remain in Greece, reside at a registered address and report regularly to police.
