Saturday, 11 February 2012
23 July 2010 – The head of the United Nations agency tasked with upholding press freedom today condemned the murder of an investigative reporter in Greece who was gunned down outside his home earlier this week.
Socrates Giolias, director of the Thema 98.9 FM radio station and a contribution to the popular social and political blog Troktiko, is the first journalist to have been assassinated in Greece since 1985.
Mr. Giolias, 37, was reportedly shot at least 20 times on Monday morning after he was lured out of his apartment in the Ilioupolis neighbourhood of Athens by three men disguised as security personnel.
Irina Bokova, the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), issued a statement from the agency’s headquarters in Paris in which she deplored the murder.
“Violence against journalists constitutes an attack on the fundamental human right of freedom of expression,” she said. “It is a direct threat to democracy. I count on the Greek authorities to do their utmost to bring to justice the perpetrators of this crime. They cannot be allowed to act with impunity.”
Today’s press statement noted that colleagues said Mr. Giolias was about to publish a report on corruption.
The Brussels based United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe - UNRIC provides information on UN activities to the countries of the region. It also provides liaison with institutions of the European Union in the field of information. Its outreach activities extend to all segments of society and joint campaigns, projects and events are organized with partners including the EU, governments, the media, NGOs, schools and local authorities.
United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC Brussels)
Residence Palace, Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 155, Block C2,7th and 8th floor, Brussels 1040, Belgium
Tel.: +32 2 788 8484 / Fax: 32 2 788 8485