The full acquittal of all 13 defendants in the so-called “Spartans” case, including Ilias Kasidiaris, was requested today by the prosecutor of the three-member Criminal Court of Appeal, where the case is being heard at second instance.

On trial are 11 current and former MPs of the Spartans party, Ilias Kasidiaris—charged with incitement to voter fraud—and a lawyer accused of complicity in voter fraud. The central charge concerns alleged voter fraud during the 2023 national elections.

The case first entered the judicial spotlight after the president of the Spartans party, Vassilis Stigas, made references from the floor of Parliament to a “Greek mafia” and blackmail within his party, remarks widely interpreted as alluding to Ilias Kasidiaris.

Mr. Stigas later retracted his statements, attributing them to a moment of poor judgment and misinformation. Following his initial allegations, an investigation was conducted by the then Prosecutor of the Supreme Court, Georgia Adilini, which ultimately led to the case being brought to trial.

In her address to the appellate court today, the prosecutor recommended that all defendants be acquitted, stating that “the charges have not been proven.”

According to the prosecutor, there was no evidence of collusion between the 11 MPs accused of misdemeanor voter fraud and Ilias Kasidiaris, who was convicted at first instance in the Golden Dawn case. As she noted, “it has not been proven that the MPs received instructions from anyone.” She added that there is no proof that the other defendants acted on Kasidiaris’ directions and that his public statements claiming credit for the Spartans’ electoral success do not constitute sufficient evidence to support the charges against him.

During her summation, the prosecutor also referred to relations within the party, emphasizing that there was “no prior understanding between Ilias Kasidiaris and the Spartans’ parliamentary candidates,” and that “there was no testimony indicating that any voters altered their electoral behavior.”

She further described the post-election period within the Spartans party as “conflict-ridden,” following the expulsion of MP Floros, who had supported Kasidiaris’ candidacy for mayor of Athens. The remaining MPs opposed the expulsion and requested that the matter be referred to the party’s disciplinary bodies. She added that, in protest—or due to practical difficulties in traveling—the Spartans MPs did not attend a plenary session of Parliament in August 2023. This collective absence ultimately led Mr. Stigas to make public statements about a “Greek mafia,” without specifying whom he was referring to.

It is noted that all defendants were acquitted at first instance. However, the case was brought before the Court of Appeal following an appeal filed by the Prosecutor’s Office.