Hague time for the Nazi crimes in Distomo

The memories of June 1944 are being stirred up once again. The families of the 228 Distomo citizens that died from the barbarity of German occupation troops, are anxiously awaiting the decision of the International Court of Justice on the appeal of Germany against Italy, regarding the issue of the victims in Distomo.

The decision will be read at 11 am Greek local time and broadcast live from the site of the Court here.

Germany appealed to the Hague believing that the Italian courts, not respecting the immunity of Germany, approved the seizure of German assets in respect of victims of Nazism in Italy, following a Court decision in Livadia, which was ratified by the Supreme Court and awarded 28 million euros to the victims of Distomo.

The "battle" of Distomo for German compensation is a personal matter for attorney Kelly Stamoulis, daughter of the late Yiannis Stamoulis, the judiciary who initiated the legal proceedings. Speaking to protothema.gr, she says "we hope that the verdict of the Hague will validate the long struggle that the citizens of Distomo have been through in Greece and Italy."

The legal battle started in 1995 by Yiannis Stamoulis, judiciary and former PASOK MEP, who filed a lawsuit in which the people demanded 60 million euros moral compensation for the atrocities in Distomo. 1997 saw the issuing of the decision of the First Instance Court of Livadia, which vindicated the people of Distomo and awarded damages for emotional distress.

In 2000 the German government appealed to the Areios Pagos Supreme Court, arguing that it cannot be tried in a foreign country for crimes committed in the past. The Supreme Court, however, rejected the appeal of the German government.

Germany refused to pay the amounts due and Yannis Stamoulis proceeded to enforce the implementation of the verdict against the assets of the German government in Greece.

The German government immediately filed an objection (2002), which was accepted by the Greek court and therefore the Distomo citizens could not collect their money.

In 2004, Stamoulis invoked Regulation 44/2001 of the European Council, under which the final Greek decision of the Livadia court could be declared enforceable in another EU member-state.

He chose Italy in order to initiate this process and in November 2008 (after a four-year race in Italy as well) the Livadia decision was deemed enforceable in this European country.

Germany appealed to The Hague by asking whether Italy has acted lawfully in recognizing that the people of Distomo are entitled to compensation by an Italian court from the German assets in Greece.