The United States protested the Greek government’s decision to move convicted murderer Dimitris Koufodinas out of his cell at a maximum security prison and into an open-air farm prison where his responsibility will include picking fruit.
US State department spokesperson, Heather Nauert Tweeted strong opposition to the easing of Koufodinas’ prison terms.
“We understand convicted Greek terrorist Dimitris Koufontinas was moved to a farm prison w/ lighter restrictions. He murdered 11 including U.S. personnel & is inspiring the next generation of terrorists. We condemn in the strongest terms furloughs or any easing of his prison stay,” she Tweeted.
We understand convicted Greek terrorist Dimitris Koufontinas was moved to a farm prison w/ lighter restrictions. He murdered 11 including U.S. personnel & is inspiring the next generation of terrorists. We condemn in the strongest terms furloughs or any easing of his prison stay.
— Heather Nauert (@statedeptspox) August 3, 2018
Koufodinas was a foot soldier and convicted murderer in the deadly November 17th organization, which was responsible in the 1970s and 80s for the brutal murders of numerous foreign and Greek diplomats, business leaders and public figures, including U.S. Embassy defense attaché Capt. William Nordeen and Air Force Sgt. Ronald O. Stewart, amongst others.
Members of the ultra-leftist gang evaded arrest for more than a quarter century as they assassinated their victims and bombed their targets, becoming one of Europe’s deadliest and most elusive terror organizations.
The group began to unravel in 2002 and its members were arrested, one by one, including Koufodinas, who confessed to many of the murders the gang took responsibility for, including those of the American diplomats.
A former U.S. Ambassador also Tweeted his opposition.
“I just don’t get this. Koufodinas is a convicted, unrepentant terrorist responsible for the deaths of Greek, Turkish, UK, and US nationals. He should be in prison, real prison, for life. No furloughs, no farms. His day is done,” Tweeted Ambassador David Pearce, who served as the chief American diplomat between 2013-1016.
I just don’t get this. Koufodinas is a convicted, unrepentant terrorist responsible for the deaths of Greek, Turkish, UK, and US nationals. He should be in prison, real prison, for life. No furloughs, no farms. His day is done https://t.co/Dq6aaLWiU8
— David D. Pearce (@daviddpearce) August 6, 2018
Meanwhile, the current United States Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt expressed his disapproval with the Greek government’s move by flooding his Twitter feed with more than a dozen re-Tweets of Greek and English language newspaper stories about the Koufodinas case, including the official condemnation of the State Department.
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