Golden Dawn No 2 released, as protests over trial linger

Just weeks before the leadership and around 70 members of Golden Dawn are to go on trial, the neo-Nazi party?s second-in-command, Christos Pappas, was released from jail on Sunday as the 18-month limit of pretrial detention expired.

A council of appeals court judges banned Pappas from leaving the country, while ordering him to spend nights at his residence and report to his local police station three times a month.

Meanwhile, reactions continue from locals and activists in Korydallos, southeastern Athens, against plans to hold the trial of GD MPs and members at a special court within the local prison. Protesters cite safety reasons.

Speaking in Parliament on Monday, Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos said that the state was ?unprepared in terms of infrastructure? and that the trial will start at Korydallos. The option of moving the trial to a different venue will be discussed if the issue arises when it begins, he said.

The trial is set to start on April 20.