Sentencing of conscientious objectors Nikos Baltoukas, Andreas Anastasiou, Makedonas Alexandridis, Georgios Koutsomanolakis

Dear Prime Minister Mr Kostas Karamanlis

I am very concerned about the recent wave of sentences against conscientious objectors in Greece.
On 18 May, conscientious objector Nikos Baltoukas was sentenced by the Military Court of Xanthi to 15 months' (!) imprisonment for refusing to perform one week (!) of military reserve duty. Nikos Baltoukas, who is 37, had performed his military service in 1990-91. When he was called up for reserve duty on 31 October 2004, he refused to report, based on reasons of conscience. He was thus charged with insubordination, which now lead to the sentence of 15 months.
Andreas Anastasiou, a Jehovah's Witness, was sentenced on 17 May by the Military Court in Larissa to six months' imprisonment, also for refusing reserve duty. He too has already served his military service in the Greek army prior to becoming a Jehovah's Witness.
Makedonas Alexandridis, also a Jehovah's Witness, was sentenced on 10 May by the Military Court of Ioannini to six months' imprisonment for insubordination and disobedience. Makedonas Alexandridis has performed military service in Russia prior to moving to Greece and becoming a conscientious objector. He applied for conscientious objector status, but the Greek CO law (law 2510/97) excludes anyone who has previously served in any armed forces from the right to conscientious objection.
In April, two decisions by the Military Court of Athens and the Military Appeal Court of Athens gave the impression of new insights by the Greek military courts. In the very similar cases of Dionisis Avlastimidis and Sergey Gutarov, the courts came to the conclusion that both could not be punished, as they only had followed their conscience. The new sentences now bury any hope for more understanding from the Greek courts.
To top the list of recent events, Greek police arrested conscientious objector Georgios Koutsomanolakis, who is living in Germany, on the island of Rhodes on 12 May during a visit to Greece, based on charges for insubordination dating back to 1979. Georgios Koutsomanolakis was transferred to Korydallos prison in Athens, where he remains imprisoned awaiting his next trial on 23 May.
All these arrests are a violation of the right to conscientious objection. The Greek law 2510/97 does not comply with international standards, as spelled out by numerous resolutions of the UN Commission on Human Rights, the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. Only recently, the UN Committee for Human Rights called on Greece to improve the situation of conscientious objectors. The new wave of sentences by Military Courts therefore is a step in the wrong direction.
I therefore urge you to stop all proceedings against conscientious objectors, and to respect human rights.