The respected journalist Giannis Pretenderis writes: "I still find it difficult to understand the uproar over Giotopoulos. Who are the self-appointed defenders of a life prisoner and heavily convicted criminal? Why, exactly, are they tearing their clothes? I do not mean that I find it difficult to agree with something I would never do. I mean that I find it difficult even simply to understand them" (To Vima, 18.06.2026).

Alexia, daughter of the murdered Pavlos Bakoyannis, says: "It is very difficult for us. What is meaningful to remember is that every sudden death is a great misfortune. In our case, however, it was not an accident. Some people gathered one day, and the leader of all of them was Giotopoulos, who decided like a dark god that this brother, this father, this son, this friend would die today, without knowing him, without having anything personal against him, without any personal issue. He would simply die so that someone could publicize his views" (To Vima, 19.06.2026).

What sensible person can understand those who support terrorism? Terrorists had, and still have, their hangers-on. They include certain anti-authoritarians, certain Rubicon members, some known-unknowns and some remnants of the left.

This whole bad company indulged, and still indulges, terrorists. Even worse, it justified their murders. Today it confirms its pro-terrorist sensitivities. In other words, it shows sensitivity for the murderers and insensitivity toward the victims.

One wonders about this bad company: what would they do if even one of their own people were a victim of terrorism? Truly, what would they do?

The terrorist murderers killed 23 innocent people. The punishment should have been just. When twenty life sentences are equated with 25 years of imprisonment, that is not justice. When we say life imprisonment, we mean life imprisonment. There is no need to mock the people. Therefore, the legislature must correct its foolishness and stop the distortion of words. It bears repeating: when we say life imprisonment, we mean life imprisonment. Everything else is a farce.

These wretched individuals murdered people. They deprived them of life. All of the victims are in the ground. Most of their murderers are out of prison and living comfortably.

This is not democracy. It is not justice. It is not humanism. It is a rebuke to the foolish legislators who equated life sentences with 25 years of imprisonment. It is shameful and degrading for the legislators behind this law. It insults all the dead victims, who cannot speak and defend themselves.

A state that "caresses" murderers and ignores victims is to be pitied. It is a society in decline. Fortunately, there are, if there are, the relatives of the victims, who care for the vindication of their dead. At least for their memory.

The same bad company is asking for the release of the guiding figure Giotopoulos. It asks the justice system for leniency. And it is indifferent to the victims of terrorism. Truly, how can some people care about a murderer and be indifferent to the victims? Is there complete ideological and mental blindness? Or is something else happening in the minds and souls of those who justify terrorist murders? Am I, too, entitled to murder the murderers?

Leniency for someone unrepentant? By what logic? When the unrepentant person, at least theoretically, could begin his murderous activity again?

Moreover, how can the marches in favor of the murderer Koufontinas be justified? What mind and soul do those who wave the banner "I was born on November 17" have? Admiration and identification with murderers exceed human measure.

Of course, democracy does not take revenge. That is its greatness. Let the enemies of democracy see it, namely terrorists and those who support them. Democracy does not take revenge, but it protects itself from its enemies. And it protects citizens. Moreover, democracy must be just, and not "caress" murderers.