Greek Court Acquits Suspects in Murder of Investigative Journalist Giorgos Karaivaz

A mixed jury court in Athens cleared two brothers of charges related to the contract killing of veteran crime reporter Giorgos Karaivaz, who was shot dead outside his home on 9 April 2021. Prosecutors had claimed Karaivaz was poised to reveal links between organized crime and corrupt police officials, citing at least 10 gunshots fired at the journalist from a motorcycle. Nevertheless, the court found the evidence insufficient, leading to the acquittal on the principle of “reasonable doubt”.

The verdict was met with strong criticism from press-freedom advocates. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) branded the outcome part of a “sad week of impunity”, noting that it followed another judicial decision absolving Greek intelligence agencies in the high-profile “Predatorgate” spyware scandal. RSF’s Pavol Szalai warned that this dual exoneration sends a dangerous signal, urging the judicial authorities to intensify efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.

Equally concerned, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) emphasized that Greek authorities must not allow Karaivaz’s assassination to remain unresolved. CPJ Europe representative Attila Mong said this outcome leaves the journalist’s killers free and fosters a broader climate of fear among reporters in Greece.

Evidence in the trial included a damaged CD containing Karaivaz’s WhatsApp contacts, with some named figures linked to the Greek intelligence services, though reportedly altered under mysterious circumstances. The Greek Supreme Court later confirmed there would be no state prosecution related to the wiretapping scandal.

Karaivaz’s death underscored grave threats faced by Greek journalists; his murder and the earlier killing of Sokratis Giolias in 2010 remain among the country’s most chilling examples of violence against the press. Greece ranked 88th of 180 countries in RSF’s 2024 Press Freedom Index, the lowest in the EU.

Despite the 2024 Mixed Jury Court finding that Karaivaz was killed for his journalism, no convictions have followed. Investigative organizations emphasize that two suspects remain at large, and authorities have made no public progress since.

The acquittals highlight a perilous precedent: when crimes against reporters go unpunished, media freedom is profoundly undermined. Press advocates demand renewed investigation, transparent prosecution, and systemic reforms to prevent Greece’s media landscape from slipping further into impunity.