Greek education minister sued over genocide comment
The Supreme Court prosecutor’s office on Monday submitted to Parliament two lawsuits filed against Greek Education Minister Nikos Filis in connection with controversial comments regarding the 1914-23 genocide of Black Sea Greeks.
Lawmakers will review the suits to determine whether Filis should be prosecuted under a 2014 law cracking down on xenophobia and racism.
The suits were filed by New Democracy cadre and lawyer Failos Kranidiotis, and a high-ranking navy officer, Panayiotis Stamatis.
Speaking on a TV show early last month, Filis said that the slaughter of tens of thousands of Black Sea, or Pontic, Greeks by Turks was a case of ethnic cleansing rather than genocide.
His comments prompted several protest rallies by members of the Pontic community. Greece recognized the genocide in 1994.
