Greece: Prisoner revolt ends, solidarity actions continue

In the morning of Monday, April 23, prisoners at the prison of Malandrino in Fokida, mainland Greece, revolted. The spark igniting the revolt was the beating of anarchist prisoner Yiannis Dimitrakis as well as the vicious, violent response of the guards to the protests staged by his co-prisoners.

Disgraceful holding conditions, lack of water, regular beatings, electronic surveillance and the extremely short times allowed at the yard comprise a grim reality for the Malandrino prisoners.

The revolt of Malandrino ignited a series of other revolts in prisons across the country. After the brutal entering of riot police (MAT) in at least three prisons (Malandrino, Patras and Korydalos, Athens) the revolt has now ended. Around 250 prisoners in Malandrino stayed on the rooftop of the prison's building over two nights before being forced down. On April 29 they were visited by a 200-strong anarchist block staging a solidarity protest outside their prison.

More solidarity actions took place while the revolt was happening, including a spontaneous anarchist demonstration outside the residency of the Greek President; petrol-bomb attacks against police stations in Athens and Thessaloniki, and the headquarters of the riot police; demonstrations in city centres and outside the prisons themselves.