Greek neo-Nazis to Get Brief Jail Release for Council Oaths

Greek neo-Nazi politicians who won town council posts in recent elections whilst jailed on criminal charges are to be temporarily released to be sworn in, a justice source said Thursday.

The decision affects party spokesman Ilias Kassidiaris and fellow lawmaker Panagiotis Iliopoulos, who were respectively elected city councilor in Athens and regional councilor in Thessaly.

They are currently in pre-trial detention at Korydallos prison, and are to be temporarily released to accept their posts on Friday, the justice source said.

Similarly, party lawmaker Nikos Kouzilos is to be released from house arrest to be invested as city councilor in Piraeus.

The three Golden Dawn members are accused of belonging to a criminal organisation. Magistrates say the party over recent years orchestrated attacks on migrants and political opponents, causing at least two deaths.

Kassidiaris has also been charged with illegal weapon possession.

Overall, nine Golden Dawn lawmakers including leader Nikos Michaloliakos are in prison pending trial proceedings expected to begin in the autumn.

Founded in the 1980s, the openly xenophobic and anti-Semitic Golden Dawn was for years a semi-clandestine group on the fringes of Greek politics.

But in 2012 the party won 18 seats in parliament, tapping into widespread anger over immigration and austerity reforms in the debt-ridden country.

While two politicians have since resigned from the group, Golden Dawn also came third in May's European elections, winning three seats.