QA-46, 20 June 2018, Statement of the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hami Aksoy in Response to a Question on the third 48-hour furlough granted to Dimitris Kufodinas, a member of the November 17 Terrorist Organization

The Greek authorities have granted Dimitris Kufodinas, a member of the November 17 terrorist organization, a 48-hour furlough for the third time.

This person was sentenced to life imprisonment for being the perpetrator of the murder of the Press Attaché of our Embassy in Athens, Çetin Görgü (1991) and assassination attempt to the Counsellor of our Embassy in Athens, ​​Deniz Bölükbaşı (1991), as well as being among the perpetrators of the murder of the Counsellor of our Embassy in Athens, Haluk Sipahioğlu, (1994).

We strongly condemn the fact that Kufodinas, who had been given the right to furlough twice before, will enjoy this right for the third time. This has strengthened our doubts about the functioning of the judicial system in Greece.

Such tolerance granted to a bloody terrorist is a disrespect to the memory of our diplomats who were martyred and their families. It is unacceptable that a treacherous terrorist attempting lives of our diplomats who represented our country with honour abroad, can take advantage of such regulations.

We invite the Greek authorities to avoid taking steps that create a deficiency in the fight against terrorism and to fulfill its obligations in the punishment of the terrorists.