Suspect charged as November 17 terror group

UNCLAS ATHENS 002792 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/SE, EUR/PD, DS/ISI/PII, DS/OP/EUR, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/P/A FBI FOR CTC/ITSO/TGU, OIO/IOU-II AND WFO/NS-12 CIA FOR CTC, EUR/AEG AND EUR/LGL JUSTICE FOR EPSTEIN, HERRUP, FROMSTEIN E/O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER GR ANARCHISTS SUBJECT: Suspect charged as November 17 terror group sympathizer ¶1. (U) Kostas Avramides, a.k.a. "Pontios," was indicted on October 20 as the 20th defendant in the November 17 terrorist organization case. Avramides, a three-judge panel found, was "supportive" of N17 because his fingerprints were allegedly found inside a book recovered at a N17 safe house and that N17 proclamations were found on his computer's hard drive. The indictment also indicates that Avramides organized events protesting the 2003 trial of the N17 terrorists. The panel, though, unanimously ruled that "Pontios" was not "morally responsible" in connection to N17 terrorist killings and bombings since authorities could produce no proof linking him to any of N17's violent acts. ¶2. (U) Avramides, who was first arrested in May 2003 but was released after being deposed by a prosecuting magistrate, is a member of the anarchist organization "Rally Against State Terrorism" and has been described by some press reports as a peripheral N17 member. A trial date has yet to be set. The court has ordered Avramides not to leave the country and to report to his neighborhood police station twice every month. ¶3. (U) Comment: Avramides's alleged N17 connection has been dismissed by the special prosecuting magistrate Zervobeakos, but "Pontios" has remained a suspect thanks to recommendations of an appellate court prosecutor. Most legal observers call the prosecutor's case thin and it appears unlikely the charges will result in convictions. Ries