Golden Dawn members remanded after court appearance

Two new members of the Greek far-right Golden Dawn party have been remanded in custody after appearing in court on Saturday.

Three other party members, including its leader, were jailed in October 2013.

They, and the two remanded on Saturday, are waiting a trial on charges of running or participating in a criminal group.

The charges could prevent a bid by the British National Party to form a Europe-wide far right coalition for the European elections. Nick Griffin, the leader of the far-right British National party, appeared in Athens on 10 January 2014 to pledge his support for Golden Dawn.

In March 2014, Chrysovalantis Alexopoulos, a member of the Greek parliament from the Golden Dawn, broke ranks with the party before a vote that could allow criminal charges to be brought against far-right Greek party's MPs.

ESO: Background information: Greek justice hits neo-Nazi ‘Golden Dawn’ http://www.europeansources.info/record/greek-justice-hits-neo-nazi-golden-dawn/

Euronews, 11.01.14: Greece’s Golden Dawn cries foul over links to “criminal” group http://www.euronews.com/2014/01/11/greece-s-golden-dawn-cries-foul-over-links-to-criminal-group/

The Guardian, 13.01.14: Nick Griffin offers strident support to Golden Dawn on visit to Greece http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jan/10/nick-griffin-support-golden-dawn-greece

The Guardian, 17.03.14: Crisis for Golden Dawn as MP leaves, claiming ignorance of criminal activities http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/17/golden-dawn-crisis-mp-leaves

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