The U.S. State Department called Alexandros Giotopoulos "a convicted murderer and terrorist" and expressed solidarity with victims' families after the Greek appeals court released the 82-year-old November 17 leader on medical grounds — a decision that has now drawn condemnation from Washington, Ankara and prominent Greek political figures within days of his release.
"The United States stands in solidarity with the families and friends of the victims of the 17 November terrorist organization, whether they were American, Greek, or of any other nationality," a State Department spokesperson said.
The statement cited specifically the group's killing of CIA Station Chief Richard Welch in 1975 and U.S. defense attaché Captain William Nordeen in 1988 as among the crimes for which Giotopoulos was convicted.
Washington also acknowledged the Greek law enforcement officers whose work dismantled November 17 in 2002, and said U.S. counter-terrorism officials would monitor the terms of Mr. Giotopoulos's house arrest in Athens.
The State Department statement follows Turkey's condemnation earlier this weekend, which cited November 17's murder of three Turkish diplomats in Athens.
In Greece, former Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis has been among the most vocal domestic critics of the release — his father, lawmaker Pavlos Bakoyannis, was assassinated by the group in 1989.
A senior Greek prosecutor is reviewing the appellate court decision that freed Giotopoulos, raising the possibility the release could still be legally challenged. November 17 carried out 23 killings between 1975 and 2000.