Statement by the Press Office of the CC:Persecutions and repression will be answered with mass struggle!

The full statement reads:

"On Thursday, 7 May, the appeal trial of Vasilis Pyrros, member of the Central Council of KNE, will take place, regarding his participation in an anti-war demonstration that was brutally repressed by the police. The court of first instance, relying exclusively on police testimony, imposed a prison sentence on the protester on charges of alleged ‘disturbance of public peace’ and ‘attempted grievous bodily harm’, even though it was proven that he was an unarmed demonstrator facing fully armed riot police forces.

In reality, this is yet another instance of political persecution, part of the ‘industry of prosecutions’ and of the effort to silence anyone who dares to speak out. It comes on top of the unprecedented bans on political events and the KNE–‘Odigitis’ Festival at universities, the unacceptable penalties imposed on young conscripts who oppose our country’s involvement in the war slaughter, and the attempt to intimidate every voice that stands against the ‘culture of war’.

They are deluded if they think that, through such actions, they will stop the discontent and popular indignation that are growing against the criminal policy of war involvement, high prices and scandals. The KKE and KNE, together with all those who choose the side of struggle and dignity, are not intimidated by such actions!

We demand the full acquittal of the defendant.

We call for a protest rally on Thursday, at 9:00 a.m., at the courts on Evelpidon Street."