Monument of Bakoyannis Assasination

What I can see

The built-in metal plaque is dedicated to Pavlos Bakoyannis, MP and son-in-law of the then president of the conservative party “New Democracy”, who was murdered in front of his office by members of the “November 17 Revolutionary Organization”, now convicted of terrorism. Out of a total of 23 assassinations of Greek and foreign citizens by the group, Bakoyannis’ assassination is the one that has been systematically referenced by the media and the center-right political party to this day, as the symbol of its activity.

What I can't see

The assassins ambushed Bakoyannis, shot him at close range as he entered his office and escaped. This caused a major political crisis, as New Democracy party and some media insinuated that the main rival party (PASOK) was related to the group. All this happened in a period of extreme political polarization, due to a major financial scandal (Koskotas). When the members of the group were arrested 13 years later, it turned out that PASOK officials were also on the list of the group’s upcoming assassinations. According to the announcement of the group, the motive for Bakoyannis’ assassination was his “co-responsibility” for the Koskotas scandal. However, it is quite possible that Bakoyannis had discovered some of the members of the group. Pavlos Bakoyiannis was a moderate politician with anti-dictatorship activity. He was an advocate of reconciliation and permanent healing of the wounds caused by the civil war and the hatred between the right and the left, often using the phrase “In democracy there are no dead ends”. According to some analysts, this reconciliation attempt may have been a motive for his murder. There have been many other scenarios about the motives, such as the agenda he was promoting at a time when the USSR was collapsing and that he had already overshadowed the then president of the party, Konstantinos Mitsotakis. For none of the scenarios one can be sure, but the common denominator is that Bakoyannis’ increasing popularity created many friends and many enemies.

Info

• Address: 35 Omirou St.

Bibliography