Solidarity to the prisoners Giannis Karatsolis and Sofoklis Toutziarakis

FREE OUR IMPRISONED COMRADES YANNIS KARATSOLIS AND SOFOKLIS TOUTZIARAKIS

On 18/01/23, a police–media spectacle began in Patras following a raid by the Hellenic Police (EL.AS.) on the homes of seven individuals who were connected through friendly/social relationships, and the eventual pre-trial detention of six of them. What followed was their social vilification, presenting them as individuals well known to the authorities, anti-authoritarians with a rich criminal past. Personal and comradely relationships are once again criminalized in order to serve state machinations.

After a farcical trial, the charge of “criminal organization” was reduced to that of a “gang,” and the remaining charges were separated. One defendant was acquitted, four others were released, while comrades Yannis Karatsolis and Sofoklis Toutziarakis were sentenced to 21 years and 3 months and 25 years and 6 months respectively, for seven robberies in the city of Patras. At present, comrade Yannis is imprisoned in Malandrino Prison and Sofoklis is held in Agios Stefanos Prison. With the change in the law in 2019, the comrades are at risk of serving 4/5 of the sentences imposed on them.

The targeting of these two comrades by the Hellenic Police was not random, as they are individuals who from a young age actively participated in social and class struggles, being members of the anarchist movement. Their participation in the occupation of the Annex (Parartima) in Patras was another decisive factor, since any subject active there is subjected to spatial–social stigmatization.

Against repression, defeatism, and compromise, we respond by collectivizing our resistance. Against the criminalization of our lives, we respond with struggle. Against the manufactured dichotomies of innocent–guilty, we respond with solidarity. That is why we choose to stand in solidarity with our comrades. Against the violence of the state. Standing side by side with one another in every way. We support our own people who are in their hands. Until we get them all back. Until the demolition of every prison.

All to the Court of Appeal on 25/2/2026 in Patras Greece

FREEDOM TO THOSE WHO ARE IN THE CELLS