Heather Nauert
Spokesperson
Department Press Briefing
Washington, DC
November 9, 2017
MS NAUERT: Something that happened in Greece today that concerned us tremendously, and that is Greece released a convicted terrorist from the group November 17. We would like to condemn the release of the convicted terrorist Dimitris Koufodinas, who was set loose on a two-day furlough from a Greek prison. He’s been convicted of multiple murders, including those of William Nordeen, a defense attache at the U.S. embassy, and also United States Air Force Sergeant Ronald Stewart. Our embassy in Athens has conveyed our serious concerns about this decision to the Government of Greece, and that is Dimitris Koufodinas. In the past when some of these November 17th people who have been convicted of murder have been let out on furlough in the past, they’ve disappeared, so we obviously have some concerns about that.
QUESTION: Just on that, your understanding is that it was just two days and then he’s supposed to report back?
MS NAUERT: That is our understanding; but based on previous experience, we’re concerned that he won’t return.
https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2017/11/275450.htm
