Ilias Kasidiaris

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Ilias P. Kasidiaris
Ilias Kasidiaris b Mar 2016.jpg
Spokesman for Golden Dawn
Member of Hellenic Parliament
Assumed office
6 May 2012
Personal details
Born (1980-11-29) 29 November 1980 (age 43)
Piraeus, Greece
Political party Golden Dawn
Residence Drafi, Greece
Alma mater Agricultural University of Athens
Occupation Politician
Military service
Allegiance  Greece
Service/branch Hellenic Army

Ilias P. Kasidiaris (Greek: Ηλίας Π. Κασιδιάρης; born 29 November 1980), is a Greek Member of Parliament[1][2] and spokesperson of Golden Dawn, a Greek far-right[3] political party in Greece. It is led by Nikolaos Michaloliakos.

Early and personal life

Ilias Kasidiaris was born on 29 November 1980 in Piraeus, Greece.

Kasidiaris' father, Panagiotis Kasidiaris, is a retired doctor while his mother is a teacher in philology with a specialization in archaeology. He also has a brother called Alexis. As a child he was appealed by gymnastics, martial arts, writing and history. For many years, he had been taking dance classes, including tango.

During his military service, he served in the 1st Raider/Paratrooper Brigade and more specifically in the Gamma Amphibious Raider Squadron in Chios. He holds a degree in food science from Agricultural University of Athens.

Kasidiaris bears a tattoo on his arm of an ancient Greek 'meander (art)' symbol,[4] widely reported as swastika composed of Grecian Key meanders, a logo of his party.[5]

Controversies

Kasidiaris quoted The Protocols of the Elders of Zion in a 23 October 2012 speech to parliament. Defending himself in a discussion of whether to lift his parliamentary immunity over his assault of Kanelli, he quoted the passage, "In order to destroy the prestige of heroism we shall send them for trial in the category of theft, murder and every kind of abominable and filthy crime."[6] Kasidiaris, as well as two of his Golden Dawn colleagues, had their immunities stripped by a unanimous vote of the parliament.[7]

In mid-2013, while in the parliament, Kasidiaris implied that he and other members of parliament were Holocaust deniers.[8]

Οn 17 September 2013, Kasidiaris and a number of other Golden Dawn lawmakers were arrested on 28 September 2013 on charges of belonging to a criminal organisation and are due to appear in court.[9] The charge sheet includes murder, extortion, and involvement in the disappearance of up to 100 migrants.[10] On 2 October 2013, Ilias Kasidiaris was released on a 50,000 euro bail.[11]

On 2 April 2014, Takis Baltakos and Ilias Kasidiaris were recorded on video discussing the incarceration of Golden Dawn lawmakers.[12] Takis Baltakos, Samaras's most trusted adviser and chief of staff was filmed accusing Samaras of instigating a judicial inquiry against the Golden Dawn party for political gain. That week parliament voted to lift the immunity from prosecution of five Golden Dawn deputies.[13] Justice Minister Athanasiou and Citizen Protection Minister Dendias were implicated in the video. Baltakos was forced to resign but then reviled that New Democracy and Golden Dawn has an informal alliance, with parliamentary voting support.[14] The pre-trial detention and house arrest ahead of a trial was the most significant mass round-up of lawmakers since the military coup in 1967.[15]

On 10 July 2014, Kasidiaris was taken into custody in Koridalos prison, on a charge of weapons possession with the intent to supply a criminal organisation.[16]

On 1 July 2015, Kasidiaris was released from custody after the council of appeals court judges deemed that “the legal weight” of the offense was not adequate to justify detention. Kasidiaris must report regularly to his local police station and under the conditions of his release is not allowed to visit Golden Dawns political offices.[17]

Golden Dawn logo

On 15 July 2015, during rancorous debates in the Greek parliament on the passing of various bills required as a precursor to the commencement on negotiations to receive a third bailout of the Greek economy, footage of Kasidiaris tearing up papers during an impassioned speech made news reports around the world. .[18]

Televised Rena Dourou-Liana Kanelli assault

On June 7, 2012, during a television appearance on ANT1, Kasidiaris, in response to a verbal disagreement, threw a glass of water at Greek politician Rena Dourou, and then proceeded to physically assault Liana Kanelli after she objected to his behavior.[19] In Greece it was openly debated by the press whether Kasidiaris had been right or wrong and he was widely cheered online.[20] In March 2015 Kasidiaris attended court to face charges of grievous bodily harm. Giorgos Papadakis, a presenter and journalist who witnessed the assault, stated that threats were also made to television crew and other employees.[21]

Political analyst Theodore Couloumbis told Reuters that the sight of a young man slapping up a woman could cost the far right party votes, especially with women, though other experts thought images of violence could play in their favour — a Facebook page dedicated to Kasidiaris picked up 6,000 'likes' within 24 hours.[22] Kasidiaris was also awaiting trial for allegedly being the get away driver[23] for an armed assault on a university professor in Athens in 2007.[24][25] He was found innocent of all charges relating to the 2007 incident in March 2013, due to a lack of evidence against him.[26][27]

References

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  4. http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2013/08/06/internacional/1375786954.html
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  7. The Greek far right: Racist dilemmas
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  10. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=228369706
  11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_9C0CGtQfU
  12. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/03/greece-antonis-samaras-golden-dawn-takis-baltakos
  13. http://www.enetenglish.gr/?i=news.en.article&id=2057
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  16. http://www.ekathimerini.com/198797/article/ekathimerini/news/golden-dawn-spokesman-kasidiaris-released-from-custody
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  18. Greek New Dawn's Ilias Kasidiaris sues women over TV row, BBC News, 11 June 2012
  19. http://www.gq.com/story/fall-of-greece-gq-december-2012
  20. Kasidiaris on trial for assaulting KKE MP Liana Kanelli, "The Golden Dawn MP is on trial for his violent outburst on live TV in June 2012 ", www.tovima.gr, Friday, March 06, 2015.
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External links