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A day after he was stabbed to death by a member of the neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn, Pavlos Fyssas, aged 34, was buried in the cemetery in Shisto in the western part of Athens. Thousands of relatives, friends and followers sent him to his final resting place in a tense atmosphere, as there was silence at the cemetery despite the presence of a large number of people.

Shortly before the liturgy in "St. Gerasimos" church, the attendees asked the journalists, cameramen and photographers to leave the cemetery. A group of youths attacked a cameraman and he left with clear marks from the beating.

When the employees of the funeral agency brought the coffin out from the memorial hall slogans could be heard such as "immortal", "one under the ground, thousands in the fight", "blood is running and it wants revenge." According to the Greek media, deputies of SYRIZA attended the funeral. Numerous police forces whose presence was very discreet were watching the area around the cemetery all the time.

Photo: ethnos.gr

At the same time, the Greek Prime Minister addressed the nation and defined the members and supporters of Golden Dawn as "heirs of Nazis". Antonis Samaras said the government has decided not to allow them "to poison public life, commit crimes, terrorize and undermine the foundations of the country that gave birth to democracy."

"Political disputes are settled by a democratic dialogue rather than by aggression or violence, regardless of who exercises it, and not at all by blood. This separates us inside Greece and discredits us outside of it. This is the effect of the inhuman murder of Pavlos Fyssas which all Greeks condemn with indignation," said the Greek Prime Minister.

Since yesterday dozens of people have visited the place, where the 34-year-old rap singer left his last breath, to leave a flower or just a little dedication to honour his memory. Numerous teams of the special forces of the Greek police are deployed in the region of Keratsini due to fears of a new round of violence during the protest demonstrations organized by leftist parties and organizations for tonight.

Meanwhile, George Roupakias, who has confessed to the murder, will testify before the prosecutor on Saturday. Although Golden Dawn is still arguing that the party has nothing to do with the murder, photos of the 45-year-old prisoner posing with party lawmakers have appeared in the media. Other photos show his participation in the summer camp of the extremists.

His connection with the party is also proven by his participation in Golden Dawn’s campaigns for giving away free food. Sources claim that he had received money from the extremists in the form of payment for his work in the small shop at the party's office in the Athens suburb of Nikea. According to the same sources, other members of his family had received money too, as his wife had been cleaning the premises and his daughter had been helping in the campaigns for giving away free food.

Photo : zougla.gr

The authorities are investigating the calls to his phone to find out who is the instigator of the crime, as witnesses state he was specially called to the scene by a man hitherto unknown. The testimony of his wife has confirmed the same. She was also arrested on charges of hiding the weapons and materials of Golden Dawn at the direction of the person who has confessed to the murder of Pavlos Fyssas.

In parallel, a 26-year-old member of the party and former driver of its leader Nikos Michaloliakos was captured too. He was arrested after an air gun, a "butterfly" knife and two large grenades were found in his car. According to the police, the person in question had applied for a firearms certificate but the competent authority rejected his application on 5 March this year.

Earlier today Dimitris Papadimoulis, a deputy of SYRIZA, suggested to his colleagues in parliament to keep silence in tribute to Pavlos Fyssas. When Golden Dawn’s spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris said that his party would honour the murdered rap singer too, Papadimoulis withdrew his proposal, saying that it is addressed to the parties that are part of the so-called "constitutional arch". "Not only is the perpetrator a member of Golden Dawn. Golden Dawn itself was the perpetrator". The Golden Dawners left the plenary hall in protest.