Greek Political Prisoner Fotis Tziotzis Targets New "Greek FBI" Over Prison Raids

Executive Summary

Fotis Tziotzis, an imprisoned Greek anarchist, accused the recently created Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (DAOE)—nicknamed the “Greek FBI”—of harassment following a surprise raid on his cell in Nigrita Prison. Authorities confiscated personal items including letters of solidarity, media files, and SIM cards, which were later cited in case files. Tziotzis framed the raids as attempts to criminalize political dissent and reaffirmed his commitment to his cause.

Key Judgments

1. The creation and activities of the “Greek FBI” reflect Greece’s expanding effort to reframe anarchist and political prisoner activity as organized crime.
Evidence: The DAOΕ, founded in 2024, was designed to combat mafia networks, drug trafficking, and financial crimes, but has increasingly targeted anarchist prisoners, according to anarchist media sources.

2. Repeated raids against Fotis Tziotzis illustrate how Greece’s security services are intensifying surveillance and pressure on political prisoners.
Evidence: In this case, authorities seized letters and an MP3 stick, while in an earlier raid at Korydallos Prison, even a loose window hinge was classified as a “weapon.”

3. The public statements by Tziotzis reinforce his symbolic role within Greece’s anarchist movement and highlight the resilience of imprisoned radicals in using repression to galvanize support.
Evidence: Tziotzis’s writings emphasize that state repression cannot break his beliefs, closing with a defiant message of solidarity and commitment to struggle.

Analysis

The controversy around Fotis Tziotzis underscores the growing tension between the Greek state and anarchist movements as the government expands its counter-organized crime apparatus. The DAOΕ’s mandate formally covers criminal enterprises such as drug trafficking and mafia networks, but its operations against anarchists suggest a deliberate blurring of political radicalism with organized crime. This reframing strategy, echoed in state-aligned media narratives, seeks to delegitimize anarchist activity by categorizing it under criminality rather than political dissent.

Tziotzis’s defiant public response to the Nigrita Prison raid illustrates how political prisoners are using state repression to reinforce their legitimacy within radical networks. By portraying the confiscation of solidarity letters and music as both absurd and emblematic of overreach, he positions himself as both a victim of state excess and a steadfast figure of resistance. This aligns with broader anarchist communication strategies, which often leverage state actions to highlight claims of authoritarianism and repression.

The repeated raids also serve as a tactical show of force by the DAOΕ, projecting capability and control within Greece’s prison system. However, these actions risk strengthening the symbolic role of prisoners like Tziotzis, who frame themselves as martyrs of state oppression. This dynamic could deepen the divide between state institutions and radicalized communities, potentially fueling cycles of protest and confrontation in Greece’s urban centers.

Sources

• Dark Nights – Greece: Text by Fotis Tziotzis for the Greek FBI’s hounds

• Athens Indymedia – Κείμενο του Φώτη Τζιώτζη για τα λαγωνικά του ελληνικού fbi