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Kostas Georgakis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kostas Georgakis (Greek: Κώστας Γεωργάκης) ( 23 August 1948 Corfu, Greece – 19 September 1970 Genoa, Italy), was a Greek student of Geology, who set himself ablaze in Genoa, Italy as a protest against the Greek military junta of 1967-1974.
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Georgakis was a Greek student at the University of Genoa and a member of the Center Union party since 1968. In July 1970, he anonymously released an interview to a newspaper, in which he revealed the military junta's intelligence infiltration of the Greek students' movements in Italy. Georgakis' identity was rapidly discovered, and fearing for his family in Greece, he decided that he had to make an act to raise awareness of Western public opinion on the condition of his country. In the early hours of 19 September 1970, Georgakis set himself ablaze in Matteotti square in Genoa to protest against the dictatorial regime of Georgios Papadopoulos.[1]
| “ | I cannot but think and act as a free individual | ” |
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— Kostas Georgakis
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Georgakis is the only known junta opponent to have committed suicide in protest against the junta and he is considered the precursor of the later student protests, such as the Polytechnic uprising.[1] At the time his death caused a sensation in Greece and abroad as it was the first tangible manifestation of the depth of resistance against the junta. The junta delayed the arrival of his remains to Corfu for four months fearing public reaction and protests.[1]
The Municipality of Corfu has dedicated a memorial in his honour near his home in Corfu city. His sacrifice was later recognized and honoured by the new democratic Hellenic Government after metapolitefsi.[1]
In his monument a plaque is inscribed with his words in Greek.