The long-awaited trial of leaders of Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn was facing potential new delays after Greek authorities revealed Monday the case will change venues in September.
Greece's justice ministry announced the construction of a new courtroom to house the trial, which sources said will be at the court of appeals in central Athens.
The trial opened in the high-security Kordyallos prison last month with 69 party members and police officers accused of murder, conspiracy to murder or being part of a "criminal organisation".
The mayor of the Athens suburb of Kordyallos, where the prison is located, has been pleading for months for a change of the trial's venue.
He has cited the disturbance to his city caused by the heavy security when hearings are held.
It has also been a challenge to hold the 69 defendants, dozens of witnesses and the media for a case considered the most important since the country's former military junta was tried in 1975.
News of the change of venue came Monday after the justice ministry met with the mayor of Kordyallos.
Since the trial opened April 20, the court has only held two two-hour sessions and is adjourned until Tuesday due to several procedural or organisational questions.
The hearing Tuesday is expected to be focused on practical matters, with the question of the trial's schedule and location between now and September still needing to be decided.
According to Kordyallos Mayor Stavros Kassimatis, it is possible the case could be moved to central Athens even before the new courtroom is ready.
The long-awaited trial of leaders of Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn was facing potential new delays after Greek authorities revealed Monday the case will change venues in September.
Greece’s justice ministry announced the construction of a new courtroom to house the trial, which sources said will be at the court of appeals in central Athens.
The trial opened in the high-security Kordyallos prison last month with 69 party members and police officers accused of murder, conspiracy to murder or being part of a “criminal organisation”.
The mayor of the Athens suburb of Kordyallos, where the prison is located, has been pleading for months for a change of the trial’s venue.
He has cited the disturbance to his city caused by the heavy security when hearings are held.
It has also been a challenge to hold the 69 defendants, dozens of witnesses and the media for a case considered the most important since the country’s former military junta was tried in 1975.
News of the change of venue came Monday after the justice ministry met with the mayor of Kordyallos.
Since the trial opened April 20, the court has only held two two-hour sessions and is adjourned until Tuesday due to several procedural or organisational questions.
The hearing Tuesday is expected to be focused on practical matters, with the question of the trial’s schedule and location between now and September still needing to be decided.
According to Kordyallos Mayor Stavros Kassimatis, it is possible the case could be moved to central Athens even before the new courtroom is ready.
