Continued judicial harassment and trial against human rights defender Panayote Dimitras
On 6 October 2026, human rights defender Panayote Dimitras is scheduled to stand trial before the Three-Member Court of Appeal of the Dodecanese for Felonies, in Rhodes, on charges of facilitating the unlawful entry of third country nationals in Greece, and establishing and participating in a criminal organisation. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
Panayote Dimitras is a Greek human rights defender and co-founder and spokesperson of the Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM), an NGO engaged in the protection of human and minority rights and in the fight against discrimination in Greece. Since 2015, he has filed hundreds of complaints against hate speech, hate crimes, and violent pushbacks of asylum seekers in Greece. The human rights defender has written several articles and studies on human and minority rights, particularly concerning the Balkan region. He has provided reports on human rights and minority issues and litigation documents to Greek and international courts.
On 6 October 2026, human rights defender Panayote Dimitras is scheduled to stand trial before the Three-Member Court of Appeal of the Dodecanese for Felonies, in Rhodes, on charges of facilitating the unlawful entry of third country nationals in Greece, and establishing and participating in a criminal organisation. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
Panayote Dimitras is a Greek human rights defender and co-founder and spokesperson of the Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM), an NGO engaged in the protection of human and minority rights and in the fight against discrimination in Greece. Since 2015, he has filed hundreds of complaints against hate speech, hate crimes, and violent pushbacks of asylum seekers in Greece. The human rights defender has written several articles and studies on human and minority rights, particularly concerning the Balkan region. He has provided reports on human rights and minority issues and litigation documents to Greek and international courts.
The human rights defender is charged with ‘Establishing and participating in a criminal organisation’; ‘Facilitating the unlawful entry into Greek territory of third-country nationals without the legally required border checks, jointly, in respect of multiple persons, for profit and on a professional basis’; and ‘Facilitating the unlawful stay of third-country nationals in Greek territory, in respect of multiple persons and for profit.’
Panayote Dimitras is being prosecuted alongside human rights defender, Tommy Olsen, in connection with their work supporting people seeking asylum on the island of Kos in July 2021. They have also documented and reported on cases of pushbacks by the Greek authorities, an illegal practice of summarily returning people across borders, for which the Greek state has previously been found liable by the European Court of Human Rights.
Pending trial, Payanote Dimitras, remains subject to restrictive measures, including a ban on leaving Greece, an obligation to report regularly to the police station, and a €10,000 bail requirement.
The criminal proceedings against Panayote Dimitras do not occur in a vacuum. For over a decade, the human rights defender has been subjected to prolonged judicial harassment and has faced smear campaigns for his human rights work.
Most recently, on 22 January 2026, the Athens Three-Member Appeals Court rejected an appeal filed by Panayote Dimitras in a civil case for “alleged insult” brought against him by prominent political figure, Failos Kranidiotis. Panayote Dimitras, acting on behalf of GHM, had previously filed a complaint against the political figure for statements which he considered to constitute racist speech. On 12 October 2023, the Athens Multi-Member First Instance Court had ruled against the complaint and awarded Falios Kranidiotis 3,000 Euros in damages. Following the rejection of his appeal, the human rights defender was ordered to pay 5,318.58 Euros in compensation to Falios Kranidiotis, comprising the 3,000 Euros initially awarded in damages, 500 Euros in legal costs, and additional interest and fees, and to publish on his social media account a summary of the Court’s decision.
Front Line Defenders expresses serious concern at the continued judicial harassment of human rights defender Panayote Dimitras and believes that the criminal proceedings against him are linked to his human rights work supporting refugees and migrants, and documenting violations of their rights, including pushbacks. Front Line Defenders is also concerned that the prolonged restrictive measures imposed against him, including the travel ban, restrict his freedom of movement and hinder his ability to carry out his human rights work.
Front Line Defenders calls on the authorities in Greece to:
- Immediately drop all charges against human rights defender Panayote Dimitras;
- Immediately lift the restrictive measures imposed on him in connection with these proceedings;
- Cease all forms of harassment, including judicial harassment, against Panayote Dimitras and other human rights defenders working to protect the rights of refugees and migrants;
- Ensure that in all circumstances all human rights defenders in Greece can carry out their human rights work, in a safe and enabling environment, free from restrictions and the fear of reprisals.
