‘After a battle, there is a struggle that continues,’ Routsis told supporters, to applause and chants, having concluded a 23-day hunger strike in pursuit of his demand. ‘Today is a day of joy; we won a battle,’ he said, adding: ‘This is something we will continue until the end. We are not stopping here.’

Zoe Konstantopoulou: An unparalleled victory against the system

Routsis’s lawyer, Zoe Konstantopoulou, who leads the Course of Freedom party, said it was ‘a day of great joy and relief. It is the day when we can take a deep breath because good has defeated evil. This victory of good is a great breath of strength; we breathe deeply to take courage and continue a very long struggle that we are fighting with the families.’

She added: ‘It is a struggle also being waged by those who survived and risked their lives – a struggle we must wage for those who left, for those who stayed, and for the children who must never again be exposed to such dangers. Panos’s example and struggle are historic. The victory he achieved against the system is unparalleled.’

Read more about Routsis’ plight, on our report here.

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