Persecution of MPs and supporters of the Golden Dawn party in Greece
Question for written answer to the Commission
Despite having immunity, seven Greek MPs belonging to the Golden Dawn party have been arrested in Greece. Some of them have been in custody for 14 months without trial, and three more MPs have been under house arrest since June 2013.
A further 71 members of the Golden Dawn party are currently being detained. Although there is no evidence that the MPs acted unlawfully, there is no immediate prospect of them being released and the number of innocent people being persecuted is in fact growing. The fundamental rights recognised in the EU clearly do not apply in Greece.
In none of the cases have formal charges been brought against the individuals who are being politically persecuted. When asked specifically about this, the public prosecutor responsible stated that he had no evidence that the MPs had breached the law. He justified the decision to keep them in custody by saying that the possibility of them perpetrating criminal acts in the future could not be ruled out.
Does the Commission take the view that this state of affairs will prevent the MPs concerned from receiving a fair trial?
What powers, if any, does the Commission have to ensure that all the MPs concerned can at least have their rights as parliamentarians restored to them?