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{{short description|Greek far-left militant}}
{{notability|1=Biographies|date=November 2017}}
'''Christos Tsoutsouvis''' ({{langx|el|Χρήστος Τσουτσουβής}}; 1953 – 15 May 1985, [[Athens]]) was a [[Greece|Greek]] far-left militant, or "urban guerilla" fighter.<ref name="KassimerisTerrorism">{{cite book |last1=Kassimeris |first1=George |title=Inside Greek Terrorism |date=2013 |publisher=Hurst Publishers |isbn=9781849042833 |page=156 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HcYNAQAAQBAJ&dq=%22Christos+Tsoutsouvis%22&pg=PA156 |accessdate=27 February 2019}}</ref>

Tsoutsouvis was killed in 1985 during an exchange of fire with police officers.<ref name="FourBlasts"/><ref name="MarkhamCologne"/>


'''Christos Tsoutsouvis''' ({{lang-el|Χρήστος Τσουτσουβής}}; 1953 – 15 May 1985, [[Athens]]) was a [[Greece|Greek]] far-left militant. Tsoutsouvis was killed after an exchange of fire with police officers.
== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Christos Tsoutsouvis was born in 1953. During studies in [[Graz]] in [[Austria]] Tsoutsouvis became a member of anti-[[Greek military junta of 1967–1974|dictatorial]] movement [[Panhellenic Liberation Movement|PAK]]. After return to Greece he joined far-left [[urban guerrilla]] organization [[Revolutionary People's Struggle]] (ELA) and participated in many armed actions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.gr/2015/06/02/koinwnia-symplokes-elas-tromokrates_n_7490056.html|title=Οι αιματηρές συμπλοκές της ΕΛΑΣ με άτομα που κινούνται στο χώρο της τρομοκρατίας. Από τον Τουτσουβή στο ληστή του Διστόμου, Δραβίλα|publisher=|accessdate=12 November 2017}}</ref> Tsoutsouvis left ELA in 1980 and founded own group the Anti-State Struggle<ref>Kostakos, P 2010, 'Conflict, Power and Wealth: Organised Crime as an Everyday Phenomenon. A case Study of Greece', Ph.D., University of Bath. page 185</ref> ({{lang-el|Αντικρατική Πάλη}}). The Anti-State Struggle was to claim responsibility for the killing of prosecutor Giorgos Theofanopoulos on 1 April 1985.
Christos Tsoutsouvis was born in 1953. During studies in [[Graz]] in [[Austria]] Tsoutsouvis became a member of anti-[[Greek military junta of 1967–1974|dictatorial]] movement [[Panhellenic Liberation Movement|PAK]]. After the fall of the dictatorship he was a represantive of the [[PASOK]] political party in the [[1974 Greek legislative election|elections of 1974]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Χρήστος Τσουτσουβής: Δυο παγωμένα, ανοιχτά μάτια |date=2 June 2022 |url=https://www.janus.gr/2022/06/blog-post_2.html |access-date=2022-07-29}}</ref> Afterwards he joined far-left [[urban guerrilla]] organization [[Revolutionary People's Struggle]] (ELA) and participated in many armed actions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.gr/2015/06/02/koinwnia-symplokes-elas-tromokrates_n_7490056.html|title=Οι αιματηρές συμπλοκές της ΕΛΑΣ με άτομα που κινούνται στο χώρο της τρομοκρατίας. Από τον Τουτσουβή στο ληστή του Διστόμου, Δραβίλα|date=2 June 2015 |accessdate=12 November 2017}}</ref> Tsoutsouvis left ELA in 1980 and founded his own group named the Anti-State Struggle<ref>Kostakos, P 2010, 'Conflict, Power and Wealth: Organised Crime as an Everyday Phenomenon. A case Study of Greece', Ph.D., University of Bath. page 185</ref> ({{langx|el|Αντικρατική Πάλη}}). The Anti-State Struggle was to claim responsibility for the killing of prosecutor Giorgos Theofanopoulos on 1 April 1985.<ref name="MarkhamCologne"/>


Greek Minister of Public Order [[Alexandros Floros]] stated that the Ministry had evidence that Tsoutsouvis was linked to the [[Revolutionary Organization 17 November]], and Tsoutsouvis' apartment was found to contain an armory of weapons along with "detonators, batteries and wiring for assembling explosive devices, a duplicating machine, equipment for faking license plates and burglary tools."<ref name="District Attorney">{{cite news |title=Slain Gunman Linked With Murder of Greek District Attorney |publisher=AP |date=21 May 1985}}</ref> He asserted that Tsoutsouvis and his organization was linked to the murder of District Attorney George Theofanopoulos, shot and killed outside his home in April 1985.<ref name="District Attorney"/>
=== Death ===

On 15 May 1985 in [[Gyzi]], near central Athens, police officers detected a stolen motorcycle and asked the driver to pull over. Tsoutsouvis didn't stop. The shootout took place. Tsoutsouvis killed three police officers and was shot dead.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tovima.gr/politics/article/?aid=319968|title=tovima.gr - Η Δάφνη θυμίζει Γκύζη|first=tovima.gr — Δημοσιογραφικός Οργανισμός Λαμπράκη|last=Α.Ε.|website=TO BHMA|accessdate=12 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nostimonimar.gr/san-simera-skotothike-se-antallagi-pyrovolismon-stou-gkyzi-o-christos-tsoutsouvis/|title=Σαν σήμερα σκοτώθηκε σε ανταλλαγή πυροβολισμών στου Γκύζη ο Χρήστος Τσουτσουβής|date=15 May 2017|publisher=|accessdate=12 November 2017}}</ref>
On 15 May 1985 in [[Gyzi]], near central Athens, three police officers investigating recent political murders detected a stolen motorcycle near Tsoutsouvis' apartment building. As they were investigating, Tsoutsouvis and an accomplice opened fire.<ref name="District Attorney"/> Three police officers were killed in the exchange. Tsoutsouvis was also killed and his accomplice escaped.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tovima.gr/politics/article/?aid=319968|title=tovima.gr - Η Δάφνη θυμίζει Γκύζη|first=tovima.gr — Δημοσιογραφικός Οργανισμός Λαμπράκη|last=Α.Ε.|website=TO BHMA|date=14 March 2010 |accessdate=12 November 2017}}</ref><ref>Hellenic Police http://www.astynomia.gr/index.php?option=ozo_content&perform=view&id=1994&Itemid=346&lang</ref><ref name="MarkhamCologne"/><ref name="AthensBuildings"/>

==Legacy==

=== Christos Tsoutsouvis Revolutionary Organization ===
The left-wing, German terrorist organization, Christos Tsoutsouvis Revolutionary Organization, is named in his honour.<ref name="BuskyExperience">{{cite book |last1=Busky |first1=Donald F. |title=Communism in History and Theory: the European experience |date=2002 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing |isbn=9780275977344 |page=61 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UABjSQ5v2_8C&dq=%22Christos+Tsoutsouvis%22&pg=PA61 |accessdate=27 February 2019}}</ref><ref name="MarkhamCologne"/> Also translates as, Fighting Unit Christos Tsoutsouvis, it is thought to be connected with the [[Red Army Faction]].<ref name="FourBlasts">{{cite news |title=Bombs hit cities across Europe; One death heavy damage in four blasts |agency=UPI |publisher=Ottawa Citizen |date=9 September 1986}}</ref> In 1986 the group bombed the [[Office for the Protection of the Constitution]], West Germany's counterintelligence agency, in Cologne, Germany.<ref name="MarkhamCologne">{{cite news |last1=Markham |first1=James |title=CAR BOMB EXPLOSION IN COLOGNE |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/09/world/car-bomb-explosion-in-cologne.html |accessdate=27 February 2019 |work=New York Times |date=9 September 1986}}</ref> In August 1987 the group set off bombs outside a government ministry and a police station in Athens.<ref name="AthensBuildings">{{cite news |title=TERRORIST BOMBS EXPLODE OUTSIDE ATHENS BUILDINGS |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=25 August 1987|id={{ProQuest|291060377}} }}</ref>

=== In leftist and anarchist movement ===
The slogans "''Ένας, τρεις, Χρήστος Τσουτσουβής''" (meaning "''One, three, Christos Tsoutsouvis''") and "''Μπάτσοι το Γκύζη κάτι σας θυμίζει''" ("''Cops, Gyzi reminds you of something''") are often chanted by far-left and [[Anarchism|anarchist]] demonstrators in memory of the shootout that resulted in his death and the death of three of the police officers that confronted him.

*


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|2}}

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[[Category:Terrorism in Greece]]
[[Category:Terrorism in Greece]]
[[Category:Far-left politics]]
[[Category:Far-left politics]]
[[Category:Resistance to the Greek military junta of 1967–1974]]
[[Category:Resistance to the Greek junta]]
[[Category:Members of the Panhellenic Liberation Movement]]
{{greece-stub}}
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in Greece]]
[[Category:Greek anarchists]]
[[Category:People from Tenea]]

Latest revision as of 21:44, 30 October 2024

Christos Tsoutsouvis (Greek: Χρήστος Τσουτσουβής; 1953 – 15 May 1985, Athens) was a Greek far-left militant, or "urban guerilla" fighter.[1]

Tsoutsouvis was killed in 1985 during an exchange of fire with police officers.[2][3]

Biography

[edit]

Christos Tsoutsouvis was born in 1953. During studies in Graz in Austria Tsoutsouvis became a member of anti-dictatorial movement PAK. After the fall of the dictatorship he was a represantive of the PASOK political party in the elections of 1974.[4] Afterwards he joined far-left urban guerrilla organization Revolutionary People's Struggle (ELA) and participated in many armed actions.[5] Tsoutsouvis left ELA in 1980 and founded his own group named the Anti-State Struggle[6] (Greek: Αντικρατική Πάλη). The Anti-State Struggle was to claim responsibility for the killing of prosecutor Giorgos Theofanopoulos on 1 April 1985.[3]

Greek Minister of Public Order Alexandros Floros stated that the Ministry had evidence that Tsoutsouvis was linked to the Revolutionary Organization 17 November, and Tsoutsouvis' apartment was found to contain an armory of weapons along with "detonators, batteries and wiring for assembling explosive devices, a duplicating machine, equipment for faking license plates and burglary tools."[7] He asserted that Tsoutsouvis and his organization was linked to the murder of District Attorney George Theofanopoulos, shot and killed outside his home in April 1985.[7]

On 15 May 1985 in Gyzi, near central Athens, three police officers investigating recent political murders detected a stolen motorcycle near Tsoutsouvis' apartment building. As they were investigating, Tsoutsouvis and an accomplice opened fire.[7] Three police officers were killed in the exchange. Tsoutsouvis was also killed and his accomplice escaped.[8][9][3][10]

Legacy

[edit]

Christos Tsoutsouvis Revolutionary Organization

[edit]

The left-wing, German terrorist organization, Christos Tsoutsouvis Revolutionary Organization, is named in his honour.[11][3] Also translates as, Fighting Unit Christos Tsoutsouvis, it is thought to be connected with the Red Army Faction.[2] In 1986 the group bombed the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, West Germany's counterintelligence agency, in Cologne, Germany.[3] In August 1987 the group set off bombs outside a government ministry and a police station in Athens.[10]

In leftist and anarchist movement

[edit]

The slogans "Ένας, τρεις, Χρήστος Τσουτσουβής" (meaning "One, three, Christos Tsoutsouvis") and "Μπάτσοι το Γκύζη κάτι σας θυμίζει" ("Cops, Gyzi reminds you of something") are often chanted by far-left and anarchist demonstrators in memory of the shootout that resulted in his death and the death of three of the police officers that confronted him.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Kassimeris, George (2013). Inside Greek Terrorism. Hurst Publishers. p. 156. ISBN 9781849042833. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Bombs hit cities across Europe; One death heavy damage in four blasts". Ottawa Citizen. UPI. 9 September 1986.
  3. ^ a b c d e Markham, James (9 September 1986). "CAR BOMB EXPLOSION IN COLOGNE". New York Times. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  4. ^ "Χρήστος Τσουτσουβής: Δυο παγωμένα, ανοιχτά μάτια". 2 June 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  5. ^ "Οι αιματηρές συμπλοκές της ΕΛΑΣ με άτομα που κινούνται στο χώρο της τρομοκρατίας. Από τον Τουτσουβή στο ληστή του Διστόμου, Δραβίλα". 2 June 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  6. ^ Kostakos, P 2010, 'Conflict, Power and Wealth: Organised Crime as an Everyday Phenomenon. A case Study of Greece', Ph.D., University of Bath. page 185
  7. ^ a b c "Slain Gunman Linked With Murder of Greek District Attorney". AP. 21 May 1985.
  8. ^ Α.Ε., tovima.gr — Δημοσιογραφικός Οργανισμός Λαμπράκη (14 March 2010). "tovima.gr - Η Δάφνη θυμίζει Γκύζη". TO BHMA. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  9. ^ Hellenic Police http://www.astynomia.gr/index.php?option=ozo_content&perform=view&id=1994&Itemid=346&lang
  10. ^ a b "TERRORIST BOMBS EXPLODE OUTSIDE ATHENS BUILDINGS". Chicago Tribune. 25 August 1987. ProQuest 291060377.
  11. ^ Busky, Donald F. (2002). Communism in History and Theory: the European experience. Greenwood Publishing. p. 61. ISBN 9780275977344. Retrieved 27 February 2019.