Murdered for the Story: Greece Acknowledges Journalist’s Targeted Killing

December 19, 2024 – Greece –

A court in Athens made a landmark ruling concluding that veteran Greek crime reporter Giorgos Karaivaz was assassinated in April 2021 because of his journalistic work. The Mixed Jury Court determined that his murder was a contract killing directly linked to his reporting, rejecting any alternative motives and declaring that the only plausible explanation was Karaivaz’s professional role as a journalist.

Giorgos Karaivaz, age 52, was a prominent investigator of organized crime and corruption in Greece. He had a distinguished career with Star Channel and ran the independent news website Bloko. On April 9, 2021, he was shot dead in an execution-style ambush outside his Athens home, a crime that shocked the nation and drew widespread condemnation. Despite the gravity of the case, the judicial process faltered: two brothers accused as hitmen were later acquitted due to insufficient evidence, leaving many questions unanswered.

The 2024 court ruling is a rare instance of official recognition that a journalist’s work motivated their killing, a moving moment for press freedom defenders in Greece and beyond. The European Federation of Journalists and the Committee to Protect Journalists applauded the verdict as a crucial step toward justice. However, they also emphasized that accountability remains incomplete and impunity still looms large. The acquittal of the suspected gunmen and the lack of convictions for those who ordered the hit mean the masterminds behind the killing remain unidentified and at large.

The case has had broader implications for press freedom in Greece, where threats and violence against journalists have contributed to the country’s ranking near the bottom of EU press freedom indices. The European Parliament has raised alarms over “hostile media environments,” and European Commission reports continue urging Greece to strengthen protections for journalists and fortify its rule-of-law institutions.

While the court’s determination that Karaivaz was targeted specifically for his journalism provides vital moral clarity, it falls short of delivering legal closure. His unsolved murder remains a stark reminder of the dangers journalists face while pursuing accountability and justice. Without further convictions, the verdict will remain a symbolic victory rather than a full measure of justice for both Karaivaz and the principles of a free press.

Reference –

https://balkaninsight.com/2024/12/19/greek-court-rules-crime-reporter-was-murdered-for-his-journalism/