Assassination of Grigoris Lambrakis: What Happened
In May 1963, Grigoris Lambrakis, a left-wing member of parliament, was attacked in Thessaloniki after speaking at a peace rally, and he died of his injuries five days later. Lambrakis was a doctor, a professor of medicine and a former Balkan champion in the long jump. As a politician with the left-wing party EDA, he became famous as a campaigner for peace and nuclear disarmament, and in April 1963 he completed a peace march from Marathon to Athens alone after the police had banned it and arrested other participants. On 22 May 1963, as he left the rally in Thessaloniki, two men on a small three-wheeled motor vehicle struck him on the head with a club. The police present did not intervene. Investigations by the magistrate Christos Sartzetakis, later president of Greece, revealed links between the attackers, right-wing paramilitary groups and senior police officers. Lambrakis's funeral in Athens drew hundreds of thousands of people. The murder inspired the novel Z by Vassilis Vassilikos and the Oscar-winning film Z by Costa-Gavras in 1969.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Grigoris Lambrakis?
Grigoris Lambrakis was a doctor, professor of medicine, former Balkan long jump champion and left-wing member of parliament who campaigned for peace and disarmament.
How was Lambrakis killed?
On 22 May 1963, after a peace rally in Thessaloniki, two men on a three-wheeled motor vehicle struck him on the head. He died five days later.
Who was behind the murder of Lambrakis?
Investigations by the magistrate Christos Sartzetakis revealed links between the attackers, right-wing paramilitary groups and senior police officers.
What is the film Z about?
The film Z, directed by Costa-Gavras and based on the novel by Vassilis Vassilikos, tells the story of the Lambrakis murder. It won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
Who was Christos Sartzetakis?
Christos Sartzetakis was the investigating magistrate in the Lambrakis case who uncovered the conspiracy. He later became President of Greece from 1985 to 1990.
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