Pantelis Borodimos is a judge who has caught the public's attention more than once with his stances and actions. As Secretary of the Association of Judges and Prosecutors and the right-hand man of Christoforos Sevastidis—the trade unionist judge who recently attacked the relatives of the Tempi train disaster victims for protesting the Ministry of Justice—Borodimos is a controversial figure. This follows reports that George Floridis spent over 1.6 million euros on drywall for a courtroom that ultimately proved too small.
The conflict with bar associations
A few months ago, these same judges opened a front against every bar association in the country after Athens Bar Association member Vaso Pantazi brought to light a decision unprecedented in Greek judicial history. In that ruling, Borodimos decreed that Ilias Kasidiaris should remain in prison more than 2.5 years after completing his sentence because he founded a political party in 2020. Through extensive reporting, we exposed the dirty role of Borodimos and the dark background of this foul case. See the BN report here
Corruption without a bottom
While the institution of Justice has become so corrupted in the Greece of Mitsotakis and Floridis that we thought it could go no lower, Borodimos has proven us wrong, showing that this barrel has no bottom. In a new decision issued a few days ago, he rejected a fresh release petition by Ilias Kasidiaris, stating that although more than three years have passed since he completed three-fifths of his sentence, his detention must be extended. This is not due to a disciplinary lapse or a new crime, but because he gave an interview to the show MAGGA and the channel BNtv—an interview that resonated widely and was watched by over 196,000 Greeks.
See Ilias Kasidiaris's interview on BN TV here:
The despicable decision
We quote a section of the decision verbatim:
"This position is reinforced and tends toward the above, in combination with the public statements and positions of the aforementioned prisoner, immediately following the final conviction by the Court of Appeal, under which he is incarcerated, both on his personal account on the website www.x.com and in an online interview he granted to the show MAGGA, of the webpage www.bankingnews.gr (which is also posted on www.youtube.com)." Elsewhere, the same decision states: "Similarly, in the interview he gave to the online channel of the show MAGGA, he again speaks of interventions in justice by the executive power against the 'GOLDEN DAWN' organization, which appeared on the political scene and was finally recognized as a criminal organization. The prisoner, convicted as a participant and leader, repeats that his conviction was not the result of a punishable act but the result of direct orders from political figures to high-ranking Judges."
BN reveals the blatant lies of Borodimos
The aforementioned excerpts, used to justify the extension of Kasidiaris's detention, are riddled with inaccuracies and false claims. We will not dwell on the fact that it was not Kasidiaris, but Takis Baltakos—the confidant of then-Prime Minister Antonis Samaras—who stated that the prosecution was the result of political pressure rather than criminal acts. Nor will we dwell on the fact that an honest Athens Prosecutor previously forwarded a referral to Parliament seeking to investigate potential criminal liability of Antonis Samaras regarding a notorious phone call.
The "dark" point of Borodimos
These facts are well-known to the Greek public. We will focus instead on an even darker point. In his latest decision, Borodimos refers to public statements by Ilias Kasidiaris made "immediately after the final conviction" in an interview with our show MAGGA. This is entirely false. For the sake of truth, Ilias Kasidiaris gave a recorded interview to BN TV on Friday, March 6, 2026, while on a brief leave. The final decision and sentences of the Appeals Court were announced on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, by which time he had returned to prison.
Why is this significant? According to the Penal Code, once a decision is issued by the Five-Member Court of Appeals—a higher court—Ilias Kasidiaris has already been judged for his actions up to March 11, 2026. He cannot be tried a second time by Borodimos, who represents a lower body. Borodimos either lacks basic legal knowledge or is willfully using false claims to achieve his goal. In either case, he is deemed dangerous.
After free speech, Borodimos criminalizes legal remedies
Continuing this pattern, Borodimos cites a post by Kasidiaris on platform X stating: "I will immediately file an appeal for cassation, I will use every legal remedy, and I will be vindicated in international courts." After criminalizing the expression of opinion, Borodimos appears to be criminalizing the use of legal remedies—the only means the state provides to a citizen to defend their innocence. Someone should inform Borodimos that legal remedies are an inalienable right and a guarantee of the rule of law, not evidence of a lack of remorse.
The gift from Borodimos to Kasidiaris
Borodimos's obsession with keeping Kasidiaris in prison three years after the legal timeframe has had an outcome he likely did not foresee. It has established Kasidiaris as the only modern political prisoner in the conscience of many Greeks. Previous councils used flimsy excuses to extend detention based on penal code interpretations—such as claiming his father's housing offer wasn't "strongly certified" or that Kasidiaris's business didn't earn enough for a "luxurious life" post-release.
Borodimos's accidental truths
Borodimos, more blunt than his predecessors, decided to include some major truths among his falsehoods. In clear language, he wrote: Ilias Kasidiaris must continue serving his sentence because seven years ago he founded a political party. Because he continues to express political views. Because he gave an interview to a well-known online outlet that reached over 196,000 Greeks. Following the first decision, a wave of public support formed for Kasidiaris, as even the most uninformed realized he is not being held for a crime, but for his political influence. Even those who disliked him changed their stance upon realizing they could be next if targeted by a regime that has eroded institutions.
Kasidiaris to be released late summer unconditionally
Despite the obstacles set by Borodimos, he knows he cannot prevent the inevitable. By late summer 2026 at the latest, Ilias Kasidiaris will be released upon the completion of his sentence, unconditionally. On that day, the wave of support for him is expected to grow exponentially. This is the moment Pantelis Borodimos and his political masters are trying to delay, but the countdown has already begun.
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