June 24, 1954
CONVICTIONS: Patras, 24 – An appeals court this morning issued a ruling in the case of the communist cell discovered in the Peloponnese. The leader of the cell and a leading member of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Vrachniaris, was sentenced to 100 years and six months’ imprisonment. Also convicted were his accomplices G. Spinos (three years), I. Saratzopoulos (two years), A. Varlas and D. Kanistras (one year each) and A. Manonas (eight months). P. Dragiotis and K. Koutsis were acquitted. SOVIET AID: The Soviet Ambassador, Mr Sergeyev, accompanied by the embassy’s first secretary, visited the prime minister, Field Marshal Alexandros Papagos, and handed him a letter regarding the entire net revenues from 16 appearances by Russian artists in Athens, Piraeus and Thessaloniki, which are to be used for the relief of earthquake victims. The Russian artists expressed their hope that their visit will contribute to a further strengthening of cultural links between the two countries. KARAGATSIS: New books: «The Lost Island» by M. Karagatsis, Icaros Publications, Athens, 1954.
