Tightening rules and NGOs

Father Antonios Papanikolaou, founder and former head of children's charity Kivotos tou Kosmou (Ark of the World) is seen in a charity building in Kolonos, Athens in a 2017 photo. He is facing charges of embezzlement, money laundering and sexual abuse of minors. [Alexandros Vlachos/AMNA]

What has come to light about the children's charity Ark of the World and very recently about the Social Kitchen - the Other Person is horrible, but let's wait until justice decides. This is because, as Kathimerini columnist Xenia Kounalaki rightly noted recently, in 2018 we heard a lot in the news about the 16 aid workers and volunteers who were arrested in Lesvos and were described as the "dark activists of Lesvos" and "their involvement in an organized criminal network, for forgery, violation of state secrets, espionage and illegal possession of naval-type portable radios." Then, on January 30, 2024, all 16 were acquitted.

Four years ago, a far-right frenzy over the activity of NGOs swept through the country and the government wanted to show that it was doing something

Based on that case, the conservative New Democracy government proceeded...

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