The first thing you realize once you are released is that your eyes no longer stumble into walls, railings and dividers. They can wander and see the sky without seeing barbed wire. Also, your footsteps are no longer numbered. Twenty up to the wall of the courtyard, twenty to return to your cell. Certainly in my own case the walls of the courtyard have expanded to a kilometer from my house and I am not allowed to have any contact with my partner...
But anyway, I feel my release is just the first victory against the fear and injustice they want to impose upon us as a condition of life...
None of this would have happened if it were not for the development of a dynamic multiform solidarity movement from every corner of Greece that gave me the strength and optimism to realize that history is not only written by the rulers but also by the rebels...
A big thank you to all those known and unknown comrades who broke the terror of the omnipotence of power.
A big thank you to all the doctors at Nikaia General Hospital and especially to Spyros Sakkas and Olga Kosmopoulou who supported me from the first moment with warmth and altruism.
Of course I do not forget those left behind in prisons and in cold cells...I will always be by their side and will treasure all the moments we shared until we meet again...
Because as long as there are prisons nobody is free...
FREEDOM TO ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS
FREEDOM TO THOSE WHO ARE IN CELLS
Evi Statiri
(via Athens IMC)
The judicial council has finally decided to consider the legal amendment enacted by Minister of Justice Nicos Paraskevopoulos and granted a conditional release for the 26 year-old hunger striker. The ruling came 20 days after the submission of her appeal and on the 19th day of Evi's hunger strike. The previous six appeals made by Evi were rejected by the same council, which conveys a strong political message, as members of the fascist Golden Dawn were being released with no restrictions during the same time period.
The restrictive terms prohibit Evi from leaving the country or communicating with other individuals facing similar charges. She must also register with a local police department three times a month.
The hunger strike caused Evi's health to deteriorate within a short amount of time. Evi has been hospitalized in Nikaia General Hospital since Monday following two episodes of severe hypoglycaemic shocks which, along with other symptoms such as acute appendicitis, were a major source of concern for doctors. Doctors had warned that the young woman would be facing life-threatening conditions had she carried-on with the hunger strike. Evi will remain hospitalized until she reaches full recovery and according to mainstream media she will be removed from the ward assigned to prisoners.
Based on the nature of the restrictive conditions she is now prevented from having any kind of contact with her partner, Gerasimos Tsakalos, who remains in Korydallos prison. Gerasimos was also on hunger strike for 19 days in order to show his support and solidarity with the brave and fair struggle of his wife.
(via BlackCat)
The hours in the room of the hospital where I am imprisoned pass slowly and I feel my body growing wearier day by day...more so as I hear the results of medical examinations that are continuously getting worse.
Yesterday afternoon for 2 hours this declining course of my body stopped, when all the comrades who were gathered under my window filled me with strength.
With freedom in our sights, let's move forward guided by dignity.
Until victory...
PS1: A warm embrace to my hunger striking partner Gerasimos Tsakolos standing in solidarity by my side.
PS2: I send greetings to all of the solidarity movements that have done so much here in Greece and overseas. Comrades you give me strength.
PS3: Fighting greetings to all the prisoners in this country that have disturbed the miserable daily routine to stand in solidarity and fight with me.
Evi Statiri
Nikaia General Hospital
18th day of hunger strike
(via Athens IMC)
Photo: Anarchists gathering in solidarity outside the 'prisoner's room' of Nikaia General Hospital where Evi Statiti is currently imprisoned.
Evi Statiri's health has deteriorated severely, according to the recent medical report written by doctors Olga Kosmopoulou and Spyros Sakkas, who describe her suffering from acute appendicitis along with a variety of symptoms such as dehydration, postural hypotension, palpitations during standing-up, low blood sugar levels and disturbances of repolarization on the ECG. Evi was hospitalized on Monday, following two hypoglycaemic shocks as a result of her then two-week hunger strike.
The young woman's body was already fragile before the hunger strike as she was diagnosed with anaemia caused from iron deficiency and appeared to be having very low body mass index.
Evi is no longer receiving an IV treatment. She has lost 12.2% of her initial body weight so far and the appendicitis symptoms are becoming worse.
Doctors warn that continuing the hunger strike will cause irreversible damage to her body within a very short period of time and fears were expressed regarding the young woman's life. Evi is now entering a stage characterized by sudden episodes of arrhythmia (irregular heartbeats) which can put her life at risk.
IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF EVI STATIRI
SOLIDARITY
(via BlackCat)
Photo: Evi Statiri at the window of the 'prisoner's room' where she is currently being held at Nikaia General Hospital.
As of today, September 30th 2015, we participate in the mobilisation of prisoners throughout Greece (at the prisons of Trikala, Domokos, Grevena, and the women’s and men’s prisons of Koridallos in Athens) for the immediate RELEASE of Evi Statiri, wife of political prisoner-member of the Cells of Fire Gerasimos Tsakalos.
Evi has already been admitted to the General State Hospital of Nikaia, having entered her 16th day on hunger strike.
Solely responsible for her life are the justice minister — who enacted an amendment-scrap of paper for the cessation of prosecution against relatives of inmates, which nevertheless remains inactive — as well as the judicial council where the request for Evi’s release has been filed – who are procrastinating at the expense of her constantly deteriorating health.
Until Evi is released from prison, we refuse the midday lock-up and count in our cells.
Initiative of Political Prisoners
Koridallos Prisons Underground Annex [*]
September 30th 2015
[*] basement in Koridallos women’s prison, a special high-security unit for men where those convicted as members of armed revolutionary organisations, including anarchist comrades, are being held separately from the general population of inmates.
(via Contra Info)
It’s been 7 months since the imprisonment of my companion Evi Statiri in the cells of democracy. The only ‘offence’ she ever committed is her personal relationship with me. At the same time, my mother Athena Tsakalou lives as an exile on Salamis Island by decision of the judicial junta.
It’s been 7 months since the Power’s experimentations that have widened the circle of repression against friends and relatives of political prisoners, aiming to disseminate fear among people who stand in solidarity with the latter, and to impose a peculiar quarantine regime on captive urban guerrillas. Through the criminalisation of family-friendly relationships, the Power seeks to amputate every bond of solidarity that permeates the prison walls and fuels the struggle for freedom. Right at this moment, the endurances of our own world — a world that has never learned to bow its head — are being put to the test by the police-judiciary machinery of the Power, who are simultaneously taking the pulse of its reactions. With every step we take backwards, the totalitarianism of the statist beast gains ground.
Fear has expansionist tendencies… If that which is being tested today against political prisoners is not slaughtered at birth, it will spread like a plague, striking everyone who wants to live rebelliously without accepting orders or commanders in his/her life. There are many things that I would like to say but, in such moments, actions speak louder than words. Since September 14th Evi has launched a hunger strike fighting for her liberation. Since September 14th I have stood by her side, just like over recent years she has stood by my side, and I have since that date been on hunger strike myself, despite the contrary opinion of doctors, who have outright disagreed with me because it’s only been a short while since the previous hunger strike in which I participated came to an end. My only request is Evi’s liberation. My hunger strike is the only weapon I now have as a prisoner so as to stand in solidarity with Evi. It is part of a polymorphous solidarity that has already begun to manifest itself across Greece within the space of struggle and anarchy. So, there’s really no need to lose focus of the very purpose of the struggle for Evi’s liberation by making mention of my hunger strike or me personally. As I stated before, my hunger strike is my way of declaring myself present at mobilisations of people who stand in solidarity with Evi’s struggle. It is my contribution to solidarity actions that are being accelerated in order to derail — by means of anarchy — the history that we have never recognised as our own as is written by laws, judges, cops and the Power.
That the struggle for Evi’s liberation and for the cessation of prosecution against relatives-friends of political prisoners be the detonator for restarting anarchist offensive, reclaiming the streets, igniting barricades, intensifying desires, waging urban guerrilla warfare, and wagering on total liberation.
IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF EVI STATIRI
‘For, if we don’t die for each other, we are already dead’
LONG LIVE ANARCHY
Gerasimos Tsakalos, member of the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire
*graffiti in photo reads: ‘For, if we don’t die for each other, we are already dead’
[verse adapted from a poem by Tasos Livaditis]
(via Contra Info)
On September 14th Evi Statiri began a hunger strike demanding her release. She held in prison for no incriminating evidence other than being the life partner of our fellow inmate and a member of the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire, Gerasimos Tsakolos.
It is not the first time that cops and judges have harrassed and tortured the relatives of prisoners.
There is no worse or more insidious torment than seeing our relatives handcuffed and behind bars in prison.
This is their justice.
We the criminal prisoners serving long sentences in E1 Wing of Domokos prison have decided to abstain from rations until Evi Statiri is released.
Prisoners of E1 Wing, Domokos
(via Athens IMC)
Imprisoned Conspiracy of Cells of Fire member Gerasimos Tsakolos has released a statement announcing that he has been on a hunger strike since the 14th of September to demand the release of his life partner Evi Statiri who has also been on hunger strike since the same date.
"...There are many things I want to say, but in such moments as this, actions speak louder than words. Since September 14th, Evi has been on a hunger strike for her release. Since September 14th I have stood by her just like she has stood by me in recent years having conducted a hunger strike since that day despite the advice of doctors not to do so due to it being too soon since the end of my previous hunger strike. My only request is the release of Evi. A hunger strike is the only weapon available to me as a prisoner to stand in solidarity with Evi."
Full text of the statement (Greek language) is available HERE
On Sunday morning at 2:00AM I was taken to the prison hospital due to hypoglycemic shock. The doctors there diagnosed that it was necessary to transfer me to an outside hospital.
I was returned to the prison and later on Sunday morning after a visit from doctors Sakka and Kosmopoulou the prison doctors requested my urgent transfer to an outside hospital.
That afternoon I was taken to the Nikaia General Hospital.
Upon arrival I refused any serum apart from saline as the doctors were concerned that I presented with severe hypotension. Today Monday September 28th I removed the saline serum.
At the same time as thousands of people are heading to work, thousands of students head to their schools and universities and thousands experience the deadlock of economic tyranny and life flows on as always I continue my hunger strike against the velvet fascism of democracy that imprisons people for being relatives of political prisoners and for resisting fear, oppression and exploitation.
The request for my release was filed twenty days ago with the judicial council who will have to decide if a human life is of less value than maintaining false accusations that serve the plans and interests of power.
The hourglass of time is running out...
A system that forces people to risk their lives through hunger strike as collateral for their freedom is doomed to collapse...
The struggle continues...
Evi Statiri, 15th day of hunger strike,
Nikaia General Hospital prisoners ward
(via Athens IMC)
September 15th 2015:
It is a longstanding as well as an infamous tactic of the State — particularly of the police-judicial mechanism — to use fabricated charges against relatives so as to hold them hostage and put pressure on fighters and political prisoners. It was done in 2002 [against Angeliki Sotiropoulou, wife of 17N prisoner Dimitris Koufontinas], it was done in 2010 [against Marie Beraha, wife of Revolutionary Struggle prisoner Kostas Gournas], and it was done again in March 2015 [against Evi Statiri, wife of CCF prisoner Gerasimos Tsakalos, but also against Athena Tsakalou, mother of the Tsakalos brothers]. This is because the repressive policy applied against imprisoned members of armed organisations is an ongoing process of political extermination by any means.
After its capitulation on February 20th, the SYRIZA-led government was faced with the first class confrontation — that is, the hunger strike of political prisoners during Spring — and was compelled to vote favorably — among others – on an amendment that theoretically opened the way for the relatives of CCF members to be released. Today, after being refused her liberation six times by judicial councils, Evi Statiri, companion of an imprisoned member of the organisation, is still in prison. Her case is the clearest proof, not only of the acceptance of a state of emergency surrounding the memorandum by the government of the Left, but also of the strict application of a state of exception for political prisoners.
For those in society who had the clarity and determination to approach the ‘no’ vote in the referendum in a class manner and to oppose every memorandum, though without being able to take the next step forward, the question of an alternative way other than the one of delegation or relinquishment, which all the bourgeois parliamentary forces are charting, is more pressing than ever. And this is no other way than struggle and solidarity. Evi’s way…
SOLIDARITY WITH EVI STATIRI
on hunger strike since September 14th 2015
(via contra info)
25.09.15: Prisoners of A-Wing in Korydallos prison remained in the A-Wing exercise yard for one hour after the allocated time had expired in a show of solidarity with Evi Statiri who has been on hunger strike in the women's section of Korydallos since September 14. Slogans in solidarity with Evi were shouted at the guards and painted on the walls of the exercise yard in red paint. The prisoners also released a communique explaining their action, below is a translated excerpt...
"We said that we would step up our mobilizations if the unjustice imposed upon the loved ones of our fellow inmates continued - we will not stop here. We will continue to support Evi any way we can as prisoners. As the days pass and we continue to see the sytem playing with the life of our comrade Evi Statiri our patience is running out. The ministry must finally take responsibility for it's torture and barbarism and free Evi Statiri and lift the status of exile against Athena Tsakalou."
Since the 14th of September our imprisoned comrade Evi Statiri has been on a hunger strike to demand her immediate release.
Evi is held in prison without any incriminating evidence in existence to support the ridiculous indictment against her.
The real reason behind her prosecution is that she has chosen to be the partner of one of our fellow inmates and member of CCF, Gerasimos Tsakolos.
The targeting of relatives is a vindictive act of power that aims to subjugate and emotionally blackmail prisoners who remain rebellious and dangerous to the orderly functioning of the prison.
The amendment passed by the former Justice minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos turned out to be a scrap of paper that had the sole aim of tricking the hunger strikers who had reached the brink of death. After many months it remains provocatively unapplied.
The struggle to stop the criminalization of relatives and partners of prisoners is a common struggle that affects all detainees. This is why today in a show of solidarity with Evi Statiri we refused to enter our cells at midday.
Freedom to Evi Statiri
- Prisoners from Domokos and Trikala prisons
Note: A similar midday mobilization was initiated by prisoners in A and D wing of Korydallos prison.
(via Athens IMC)
Five months ago after a hunger strike by political prisoners, a law was passed abolishing Type 'C' prisons. However, the 'C' type detention regime remains essentially the same for us. The exception regime remains, the separation remains as does the special treatment against political prisoners.
The vindictiveness of the state remains against those who dynamically questioned the armed monopoly of state violence. And now the vindictiveness is extended by fascist cowards towards the relatives and personal relationships of political prisoners. The power restores once again the old practice of hostage.
It exiles Athena Tsakalou and prohibits her from visiting her children. It keeps Evi Statiri, the life partner of an imprisoned member of CCF, in prison for six months violating laws and even the recommendations of the prosecutor.
And so it is proven once again that the state of emergency remains as a key prerequisite for implementation of the atrocious new memorandum, by applying a 'sensitive' hand to the observance of the rights of the 'left.'
Evi Statiri is currently on the ninth day of hunger strike. Armed only with her body - physically weak but movingly spirited - it is obvious she is not just fighting for her own release. Her struggle is another small piece in a much larger, older struggle that reminds us all of what is taking place today, that all the rights currently under attack by capital were won through struggles that had their cost in blood, pain and tears.
This is why solidarity should be given generously by all those who consider themselves to be fighters.
Dimitris Koufodinas
Special Wing of Korydallos Prison
09.22.15.
(via Athens IMC)
At dawn on Monday 14.09.15 we attacked with paint the freshly painted Volos courthouse as a minimum gesture of solidarity with Evi Statiri who was commencing a hunger strike to demand her release. Evi is the life partner of a member of the Revolutionary Organization Conspiracy of Cells of Fire, Gerasimos Tsakolos and was detained without any evidence of involvement in the organization in an attempt to criminalize the relatives and personal relationships of political prisoners.
For the same case, exile status was imposed on Athena Tsakalou, mother of Christos and Gerasimos Tsakalos (she has been banned from leaving Salamis).
Freedom to Evi Statiri!
Immediate removal of the restrictive conditions against Athena Tsakalou!
Solidarity Initiative "Echoes of Prison"
(via Athens IMC)
