Published on 9 March 2026
THIRD SECTION
Application no. 33647/25
Petros DIMITRIADIS against Greece
and 2 other applications
(see list appended)
communicated on 19 February 2026
SUBJECT MATTER OF THE CASE
The applications concern the annulment of the applicants’ election as members of the Hellenic Parliament.
The applicants were elected as members of the Parliament in the national elections of June 2023 with the political party “Spartiates”, which had been authorised to run by decision no. 95/2023 of the Court of Cassation. The political party had twelve deputies elected. Following objections lodged by individuals against the applicants’ election on 14 July 2023, the Supreme Special Court by its decisions no. 2/2024 and 3/2024 adjourned the hearing of the cases, requesting to be informed as to whether criminal prosecution had been brought against the applicants for electoral fraud.
By decision no. 1/24.04.2024, the Court of Cassation held that “Spartiates” did not fulfil the conditions for participating in the European elections of 9 June 2024 as it did not serve the free functioning of democracy. The court considered that the true leader of “Spartiates” was not its President, the second applicant, but rather Mr I. Kasidiaris, who had been convicted at first instance in 2020 for participating in and leading the criminal organisation “Golden Dawn”.
On 14 May 2025, the One-Member Appeal Court for Felonies, by its decision no. 2113/2025, acquitted the members of “Spartiates” who had been accused of electoral fraud, including the first and third applicants, as well as Mr I. Kasidiaris (the second applicant had not had charges pressed against him). The public prosecutor lodged an appeal, and the case is still pending before national courts.
By decisions nos. 9/2025 and 10/2025 delivered on 10 June 2025, the Supreme Special Court annulled the election of the three applicants. It held that the applicants had been elected with the political party “Spartiates” which did not fulfil the criteria laid down in Article 32 § 1b) of Presidential Decree no. 26/2012, as its true leader, Mr I. Kasidiaris, had been convicted at first instance of participating in and leading a criminal organisation.
The applicants complain that the annulment of their election as members of the Hellenic Parliament violated their rights under Article 3 of Protocol No. 1 to the Convention.
QUESTIONS TO THE PARTIES
Has there been a breach of the applicants’ right under Article 3 of Protocol No. 1 to the Convention to sit as members of parliament once elected in free elections and did the Supreme Special Court’s decisions respect the free expression of the opinion of the people in the choice of the legislature (see Georgios Papadopoulos v. Cyprus, no. 21454/21, §§ 65-66, 9 October 2025 and Etxeberria and Others v. Spain, nos. 35579/03 and 3 others, §§ 47‑56, 30 June 2009)? In particular:
(a) were the decisions of the Supreme Special Court in accordance with the law?
(b) was the annulment of the applicants’ election based on a foreseeable interpretation of the electoral law?
(c) did the decisions of the Supreme Special Court pursue a legitimate aim and were the means employed proportionate to that aim?
The parties are invited to provide the full text of decision no. 2113/2025 of the One-Member Appeal Court for Felonies.
APPENDIX
No.
Application no.
Case name
Lodged on
Applicant
Year of Birth
Place of Residence
Nationality
Represented by
1.
33647/25
Dimitriadis v. Greece (“the first applicant”)
23/10/2025
Petros DIMITRIADIS
1980
Pylaia Thessaloniki
Greek
Zoi VASILIA
2.
33840/25
Stiggas v. Greece (“the second applicant”)
24/10/2025
Vasilios STIGGAS
1964
Ilioupoli Attikis
Greek
Zoi VASILIA
3.
34032/25
Zerveas v. Greece (“the third applicant”)
24/10/2025
Alexandros ZERVEAS
1979
Iraklio Attikis
Greek
Zoi VASILIA