Opposition MP asks for answers on convict releases

New Democracy lawmaker Nikitas Kaklamanis on Tuesday submitted a question to Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis and Alternate Minister for Citizens' Protection Nikos Toskas regarding the number of inmates released from custody under a decision by the previous justice minister for easing over-crowding at Greece's prisons.

Kakalmanis argued that the release of hundreds of inmates under a law introduced by Nikos Paraskevopoulos in 2015 and newer regulations by Kontonis need to be considered as a factor contributing to a spike in violent crimes over the past year, especially as a number of inmates who benefited from the law and were released early had been convicted of serious felonies.

The conservative lawmaker asked for a detailed list of all the inmates who have been released since January 2015 while serving sentences for serious crimes, as well as those who were granted...