GR police hold 2 over prominent crime reporter’s killing
Giorgos Karaivaz was gunned down near his home in southern Athens on April 29th, 2021, reportedly shot multiple times by two men on a motorcycle.
Greek police said Friday that 2 men, aged 40 and 48, were arrested on suspicion of homicide in connection with the reporter’s death.
The killing shocked Greece and led to widespread condemnation.
“We ... call on Greek police to conduct a swift, transparent, and thorough investigation into his killing,” Committee to Protect Journalists Program Director Carlos Martinez de la Serna said at the time. “Authorities must determine whether Karaivaz was targeted for his work, and should do everything possible to find the killers and bring them to justice.”
The lack of arrests had led some to criticize the government for failing to thoroughly investigate the killing.
“We had said from the first moment that we would do everything to solve the murder of Giorgos Karaivaz. As long as it takes,” said Citizens’ Protection Minister Takis Theodorikakos, adding that the police investigation had speeded up recently, leading to last week’s arrests.
“Those who used this tragic case to slander the ... government and the Greek police, owe an apology,” he said. “We are continuing with everything we must (do) to fully solve the case.”
Police did not provide further details on the arrests, but were scheduled to hold a news conference on the case. (AP)
More recently details say the 2 brothers aged 48 and 40 who were arrested on Friday for the murder of journalist Giorgos Karaivaz two years ago outside his house in the southern suburb of Alimos will testify before an investigating magistrate on Wednesday.
The use in the murder plot of a white van of a cleaning company owned by the older of the two brothers and the fact that in the period leading up to and following the murder their mobile phones were inactive are cited as aggravating circumstances against them.
The Hellenic Police has been unable to determine the role of each of the arrested men in the murder. It did, however, provide evidence aimed at identifying, without naming, the instigator, and thus the possible motive for the execution of the journalist.
Police are also hoping the case will shed light on some more death contracts other than the one against Karaivaz.
One of the brothers, aged 40, was accused in the past of being part of a blackmailing ring selling protection to 150 shops in Attica. The 40-year-old allegedly collected money for protection from bars in Kerameikos. Two of the three persons that were linked to that particular ring are also mentioned in the Karaivaz file.
Moreover, the file of the Karaivaz case also refers to Giorgos Mitsou, owner of gas stations, who was murdered at a gas station in June 2022. The file states that one of the brothers maintained contact with him. Police sources said the 40-year-old brother was responsible for the security of Mitsou. The latter had, a few days before he was killed, allegedly agreed to replace members of his personal guard at the 40-year-old’s suggestion.
Mistou’s murder had been linked to the Greek mafia, as was that six months earlier of Giannis Skaftouros, who was well-known figure in the criminal underground.
