“For the first time an explosive device reaches the hands of a judge” said the president of the Union of Judges and Prosecutors (Union of Judges and Prosecutors) Margarita Stenioti, visiting the Thessaloniki courthouse, one day after the discovery of a package, laced with explosive material, which was addressed to a president of Appeals.

Condemning the “terrorist-criminal act”, Mrs. Stenioti spoke of “deficient security measures”, calling on the State, to which the Union – as she said – has appealed repeatedly, to deal with this matter. He was in favor of the implementation of an integrated plan for the protection and guarding of both courthouses and judges.

With regard to her fellow judges, she asked the State to reinstate custody in the cases of judges handling dangerous cases. “The institutional role of the judicial officer is dangerous, so police officers can leave the custody of businessmen, who are able to privately have custody. The judge has not,” said Mrs. Stenioti.

The president of ENDE also pointed out that judicial officials receive threats and violence, but “they don’t shy away, it’s part of the operation”, while she recalled an incident two months ago in Athens, where an explosive device was found in a colleague’s locker and there was an acceptance of responsibility 15 days later.

Referring, in particular, to the courts of Thessaloniki, she emphasized that the magnetic gate at the main entrance “is not enough”, because there is access from other entrances as well. “It is of particular concern that this envelope contained 500 grams of explosive material (a.k.a. gelato dynamite). He left the ground floor and went up three floors without being noticed by anyone,” said the president of ENDE, and commenting on the fact that ENDE was referred to as the sender, she said that it was a “trick” since “the recipient trusts the sender.”

Thessaloniki Court of Appeal: “The endurance of the Greek judge resists any kind of arbitrary show of force”

“Activities of organized violence, such as yesterday’s in the Thessaloniki courthouse, undoubtedly dynamit social peace, this elementary condition of social coexistence, but they do not shake democracy in our country” emphasizes, in his announcement, the appellant Nikos Vokas, press representative of Thessaloniki Court of Appeal.

“The stamina of the Greek judge, as it has been proven historically, resists any kind of arbitrary display of power” is pointed out in the same announcement and it is underlined: “The justice of a country is measured by the strength and quality of its judges. And fortunately, in our homeland, the Greek judge, despite any challenges, is and will remain the unwavering guarantor of every citizen against private, economic and state violence”.

Reinforcement of safeguarding measures

In the meantime, security measures at the courthouse in Thessaloniki have been strengthened since the morning compared to the previous 24 hours. Lawyers, judicial officers and employees, as well as citizens enter only through the main entrance (on October 26), passing through the X-RAY gate or by showing a professional ID. The side entrance from the IKA-Pylis Axios remained closed.

Besides, the judicial employees of Thessaloniki have announced a two-hour work stoppage, from 11.00 to 13.00, as a sign of protest for the insufficient, as they emphasize, security measures.