The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) organized a commemorative visit and pilgrimage to the island of Agios Stratis, a historic place of exile for communist political prisoners.
Communist Party of Greece commemorates exiled communists
According to 902.gr, participants, including many young people and descendants of former exiles, gathered at the KKE monument on the island carrying red flags and honoring those who remained steadfast under persecution.
Speaking at the event, KKE Central Committee member Fanis Parris praised the resilience of the exiled communists who refused to renounce their beliefs despite imprisonment, torture and hardship. He argued that their example remains relevant today, inspiring resistance to exploitation, imperialist war and social injustice. Referring to the KKE's recent 22nd Congress, he expressed confidence that popular struggles could lead to socialist transformation.
The ceremony included wreath-laying at the monument to the exiles, a minute of silence, and the laying of flowers at the memorial of Kostas Gavriilidis, a prominent leader of the rural movement who died in exile on Agios Stratis in 1952. Participants then visited the ossuary containing the remains of exiles who died on the island, including those who succumbed to starvation after refusing to renounce the KKE.
The programme concluded with a guided historical tour of Agios Stratis, highlighting sites associated with the exiles and presenting oral testimonies about their lives and struggles. Earlier in the day, a KKE delegation met with the island's mayor, Konstantinos Sinanis. According to the report, the visit provided participants with both historical knowledge and inspiration while commemorating the legacy of the communist exiles.
(Photo: 902.gr)