Greek authorities failed to investigate journalist murders, find press freedom organizations

Athens, 29 September 2023 — A pattern of inaction and inadequate investigation from Greek authorities in the 2010 murder of Greek journalist Sokratis Giolias was revealed in an investigation published today by press freedom groups Free Press Unlimited, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders. 

“Impunity in Europe: the uninvestigated murder of Greek journalist Sokratis Giolias” found no authorities have ever been held to account for their investigative failures amid ongoing impunity in the case. The findings show strong parallels with the recent murder of Greek reporter Giorgos Karaivaz, killed on 9 April 2021. Giolias, a former radio journalist and TV editor who started the popular news blog Troktiko, was shot and killed by two assailants in police uniforms in front of his house on July 19, 2010. The investigation is part of the A Safer World For The Truth initiative to investigate, document and pursue justice for murdered journalists.

“Thirteen years after the murder, witnesses remain too fearful to speak out”, said Jasmijn de Zeeuw, researcher on the case at Free Press Unlimited. “The persistent impunity for two journalist murders is emblematic of the lack of priority given to the protection of Greek journalists”. 

“Our investigation makes plain the failure of Greek authorities to thoroughly investigate Sokratis Giolias’ murder, underscoring the stark erosion of press freedom in Greece,” said Attila Mong, CPJ’s Europe representative. “To establish the country’s standing as a beacon of democracy, Greek authorities must swiftly implement our recommendations to bring about justice in Giolias’ case.”

“Assassination is the extreme form of censorship, as Irish writer George Bernard Shaw put it. An unpunished killing of a journalist also has a self-censorship effect on his living colleagues,” said Head of the EU-Balkans Desk at RSF. “Contrary to what the Greek government claims, there is censorship in Greece. And there will be until justice is served for the assassinations of Sokratis Giolias and Giorgos Karaivaz,”

Despite the terrorist group Sect of Revolutionaries publicly claiming the murder, no one has ever been charged. In 2030, the case expires and authorities will no longer be able to hold anyone responsible for the murder.

Following analysis of witness testimonies, case files and news reports, investigators found several of the omissions in the investigation of Giolias’ murder have never been corrected - including facts that were already reported in 2013. 

The case files indicate that the police investigation primarily focused on verifying hypotheses launched in Greek media. Case files seen by A Safer World For The Truth suggest that important leads, such as the relationship between Giolias and a senior police official, remain under-investigated.

The report underscores the lack of transparency from the authorities  throughout the investigation, including a failure to keep Sokratis’ family informed about the investigative progress.

The report demonstrates the relevance of the case to the safety of journalists in Greece, which is  ranked last of all EU Member States of RSF’s World Press Freedom Index. 

Thirteen years after the assassination, both witnesses and journalists approached for this investigation stated that speaking about the case alone is already dangerous and typically refused to speak at all. This silencing effect was also visible right after the murder, when security concerns among journalists rose. 

The longstanding impunity in Giolias’ case demonstrates a pattern of poor investigative standards applied to crimes against journalists in Greece, replicated in the recent case of Giorgos Karaivaz who was killed on April 9, 2021. The failure to provide justice in both these cases has created a chilling effect on the Greek press corps.

The investigation provides recommendations to independently review errors made in the investigations, in an effort to address  impunity in both cases. It also calls on  the Greek government to review its investigative practices in cases of crimes against journalists, and requests the European Commission to monitor its progress.

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About A Safer World For the Truth:

A Safer World For The Truth  is a collaboration between Free Press Unlimited (FPU), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). We investigate murders through a series of cold case investigations to push for justice on the national level, and we organize the People’s Tribunal on the Murder of Journalists to put a spotlight on states’ obligation to protect journalists and to investigate all attacks against them.  To learn more about the project, visit our website https://www.saferworldforthetruth.com/.

Spokespeople are available for interviews in Dutch, French, and English: 

Reporters Without Borders (Paris): [email protected] 

Free Press Unlimited (Amsterdam): [email protected]

Committee to Protect Journalists (New York City): [email protected]

About the  organizations:

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is an organisation defending the freedom, pluralism and independence of journalism based in Paris, France. Its sections and bureaux in 13 countries, as well as its correspondents and representatives in 144 countries give RSF the ability to mobilize support, challenge governments and wield influence both on the ground and in the ministries and precincts where media and Internet standards and legislation are drafted. 

Free Press Unlimited (FPU)

Free Press Unlimited is a non-profit press freedom organization based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands that helps local journalists in conflict areas to provide their audience with independent news and reliable information. By supporting local media professionals, Free Press Unlimited seeks to support the enabling of a sustainable, professional and diverse media landscape.

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide and defends the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal.