“He was born in Kelli/Gornitsevo in 1951, he lived there for 18 whole years, then he immigrated to Canada. Last August he was informed that his Greek citizenship was revoked”.One more case regarding removal of Greek citizenship from ethnic Macedonians became known this summer. Mr. Konstandinos Ilias from the village Kelli/Gornitsevo, Florina/Lerinsko, economic emigrant in Toronto /Canada learnt was informed some days ago that he had lost his Greek citizenship.
It all started when Mr Ilias went (in the beginning of August) in the municipality of Amindeo/Surovichevo in order to apply for a birth certificate. Full of irony and sarcasm an employee of the Municipality told him: “I cannot give you the certificate sir … your Greek citizenship is taken away’.
After such a statement, Mr. Ilias started questioning the town clerk about what happened and why he was not informed about it.
According to Mr. Ilia, the town clerk, wishing to get rid of him, literally threw an application form in his face, telling him that no matter how many requests he would do to regain his Greek citizenhip, they would all be in vain.
In addition, Mr Ilias was informed that both of his brothers, also economic immigrants to Canada, had lost their Greek citizenships.
Three adults, ethnic Macedonians, Greek citizens left Kelli/Gornitsevo – Florina/Lerinsko seeking a better life in Canada.
The only thing they did there was to continue living according to the customs of their birth place.
They were married in Greek Orthodox churches in Toronto, they baptized their children in the same churches, but they speak Macedonian, a huge “crime” they’re continuously committing.
Therefore, Greece decided to exemplarily punish them, by removing them their citizenship.
In theory, Greece is a very democratic country, a county, which in every occasion claims it fully respects human rights, including those of self determination or one’s right to use his/her mother language.
This is one more case proving that Greece doesn’t really respect these rights. This method (removing citizenship) is implemented by the “deep state” and its secret service to the Greek citizens who are “found” abroad to have expressed a different identity. Apparently, then, the secret services inform the Ministry of Interior and the final outcome is the removal of citizenship.
We expect an answer from the Greek authorities on how many ethnic Macedonians from Greece are black-listed and how many of them have lost their Greek citizenship.
EFA-Rainbow is fully aware that for many years (see Misalis, Markou and many other cases), Law 3370/95 (article 20, par. 1G) is implemented against members of the Macedonian minority in Greece.
Ultimate goal of the Greek authorities, except of course removing Greek citizenships from ethnic Macedonians, is to intimidate all Macedonians from Greece who live inside and outside the country, their families and close relatives. In other words, to and to keep them off from expressing their different, Macedonian, ethnic identity...
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