US embassy cable - 05ATHENS2792

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