ATHENS — Alexandros Giotopoulos, an 82-year-old man serving 17 life sentences for his alleged leadership of the far-left militant group November 17, was released from prison on Thursday evening, stirring controversy and strong reactions from the victims' families and officials.

The Greek court that sentenced Giotopoulos in 2003 identified him as the mastermind behind November 17, a group active from 1975 until 2002. The organization carried out assassinations, bombings, and armed robberies that financed its operations. Its attacks targeted a range of figures, including industrialists, politicians, and foreign diplomats, most notably Richard Welch, a CIA station chief assassinated in Athens in 1975. In total, November 17 was responsible for the deaths of 23 people.

Following his release, footage aired on Greek television showed Giotopoulos walking in central Athens carrying a plastic bag. His lawyer, Vasiliki Kamilari, explained that the decision to free him was based on his advanced age, deteriorating health, and good behavior while incarcerated. Giotopoulos also completed postgraduate studies during his time in prison. Under Greek law, individuals serving multiple concurrent life sentences can be eligible for release after approximately 25 years, and Giotopoulos had filed several petitions on this basis.

Giotopoulos has consistently denied involvement, questioning the evidence against him and demanding clarity on when and how he allegedly incited violence. In a statement after his release, he said, “After 24 years of imprisonment, I am still awaiting an answer to the crucial question: ‘In what place did my moral instigation take place?’”

The decision was met with strong condemnation from relatives of the victims. Kostas Bakoyannis, former mayor of Athens and son of a prominent conservative politician assassinated by November 17 in 1989, criticized the release. He warned against minimizing Giotopoulos’ role, noting the contrast between his prior designation as a terrorist and his new status as a free man.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry also denounced the release, labeling Giotopoulos a “treacherous terrorist.” November 17 was responsible for the deaths of two Turkish Embassy staff members among others.

Authorities noted that Giotopoulos must report monthly to his local police station as a condition of his release. Meanwhile, the Greek Supreme Court prosecutor has reportedly requested a review of the release ruling, though the prosecutor’s office has declined to comment publicly. His lawyer regards any attempt to reverse the decision as unlikely, describing the court’s ruling as meticulously reasoned.

November 17 took its name from the November 17, 1973 student uprising against Greece’s military junta, which was brutally suppressed. The group remained undetected until 2002, when a premature bomb detonation injured a member and led to the dismantling of the network. Giotopoulos was arrested on the island of Lipsi after living under a false identity.

Alongside Giotopoulos, 14 other members of November 17 were convicted in 2003, with three, including Dimitris Koufodinas—identified as the group’s chief assassin—still serving prison sentences.