ATHENS – The former leader of the disbanded neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party, who was jailed along with all his lawmakers and dozens of members, is going to be released despite writing from his cell that he was a political prisoner.

Nikos Michaloliakos, famously photographed angrily clutching a briefcase while being escorted at a court by police — and also giving a Heil Hitler salute — has met conditions for getting out early, having served three-fifths of his 13-year sentence.

That was the ruling of the Judicial Council of Misdemeanors of Lamia after the guilty verdicts came down in October 2020, although a public prosecutor argued against it, stating that Michaloliakos, now 66, hasn’t shown any remorse but continued defiance.

The council said glorifying neo-Nazi ideology isn’t unlawful and that he couldn’t be held accountable for it in a criminal way, opening the door for his release. It wasn’t said what he would do next.

He and his crew were convicted of running a criminal gang, which they denied, and attacking immigrants. One member, Giorgos Roupakias, was convicted of the stabbing death of anti-Fascist hip-hop artist Pavlos Fyssas, murdered in 2013.

He is banned from leaving Attica, is required to report to his local police station (in Pefki) once a month, and is not allowed to meet with any of the defendants in the Golden Dawn crime case.