Türkiye Condemns Early Release of Convicted November 17 Leader in Greece

(MENAFN) Türkiye issued a strong rebuke on Friday over the decision by Greek authorities to release Alexandros Giotopoulos, the imprisoned head of the November 17 terrorist organization, describing the move as a sign of disregard toward assassinated Turkish diplomats and their bereaved families.

In an official statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry declared, “We strongly condemn the release on May 21, 2026, of November 17 terror organization leader Alexandros Giotopoulos,” referring to him as the main planner behind assaults that targeted Turkish diplomatic personnel in Athens.

The ministry emphasized that Giotopoulos had been serving a sentence of 17 life imprisonments in addition to 25 extra years, imposed for planning and coordinating multiple attacks against Turkish envoys in Greece.

Authorities in Ankara pointed out that he was responsible for the 1991 murder of Cetin Gorgu, who served as press attaché at the Turkish Embassy in Athens, as well as the same year’s failed assassination attempt against embassy counselor Deniz Bolukbasi, and the 1994 killing of counselor Haluk Sipahioglu.

The statement further described the decision as “an unacceptable display of tolerance” toward “this vile terrorist” and labeled it “a grave disrespect to the memory of our martyred diplomats and their families.”

Türkiye also called on Greek officials to avoid measures that could undermine international counterterrorism cooperation and to fulfill their obligations in ensuring that convicted terrorists are appropriately punished.

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