A. Charitsis on Kaisariani: Crucial for the photographs to come under the ownership of the Greek state
A. Charitsis emphasized the importance of acquiring historical photographs related to a WWII massacre in Kaisariani, stating they belong to the Greek people.
A. Charitsis, president of the New Left, has expressed deep concern over the publicization of photographs depicting the execution of 200 Greeks in Kaisariani on May Day 1944. He highlighted the significance of these images, which have surfaced for the first time in 82 years, as vital evidence of the atrocities committed by the Nazis during their occupation of Greece. Charitsis argued that the photographs represent a form of property belonging to the Greek people and must be safeguarded by the Greek state.
In his interview with Real FM, Charitsis detailed his conversation with the Minister of Culture regarding the auction process of the photographs. He emphasized the urgency of having the Greek government intervene to ensure that these images do not end up in private hands or become part of a private collection. Charitsis underscored the historical and cultural value of these photographs and the need for them to be preserved as part of the national heritage.
This situation brings to light the broader issue of how historical artifacts and documentation related to tragic events should be handled, especially concerning their ownership and the potential for loss to private collectors. Charitsis's assertion highlights the responsibility of the state to protect cultural memory and ensure that the historical narrative remains accessible to all citizens, thus engaging public discourse about the need to confront and memorialize the past.