Christos Tsoutsouvis

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

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

Christos Tsoutsouvis Revolutionary Organization

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

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
    1. Kassimeris, George (2013). Inside Greek Terrorism. Hurst Publishers. p. 156. ISBN 9781849042833. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
    2. "Bombs hit cities across Europe; One death heavy damage in four blasts". Ottawa Citizen. UPI. 9 September 1986.
    3. 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. "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. "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.
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