Z. Konstantopoulou argues that the photographs documenting the execution of the 200 in Kaisariani should be preserved as national heritage rather than treated as commodities.
Zoi Konstantopoulou, the president of the Freedom Course party, has emphasized the significance of the photographs from the execution of 200 individuals in Kaisariani, Greece, during World War II. She insists that these images are not merely historical artifacts for commercial purposes; instead, they belong to the Greek nation as vital documentation of its collective history of resistance and heroism. Konstantopoulou stresses the state's responsibility to retrieve and share these photographs with the public, underlining their emblematic value in the narrative of Greek resistance against oppression.
In her statement, Konstantopoulou also raised concerns about the handling of evidence related to war crimes, declaring that the state must claim from Germany the outstanding reparations for Nazi atrocities. She argues that such documents of crime should not be viewed as tradable commodities, and their significance must be acknowledged collectively by the Greek people. The revisitation of these historical truths is paramount for honoring the memory of the past and confronting unresolved injustices.
She concluded by highlighting the need for a collective effort to ensure that the memory of such pivotal events becomes a shared responsibility within society, advocating for a more active engagement in the pursuit of justice regarding historical grievances. Her statements serve as a reminder of the ongoing impacts of wartime atrocities and the importance of historical documentation in shaping national identity and collective memory.
