Insurgency Overview
The Sect of Revolutionaries (SR), a far-left militant group, emerged in the wake of societal unrest following the 2008 police killing of Alexis Grigoropoulos. Operating primarily in Greece, the group advocated for radical changes through violent means, aiming to provoke a revolution against the state and its institutions. Their activities, marked by high-profile targeted attacks, positioned them as a significant figure in the landscape of revolutionary groups in Greece.
History
The Sect of Revolutionaries was born from radical leftist and anarchist ideologies that intensified after Greece’s military dictatorship era ended in 1974. This turbulent period led to the establishment of the notorious Revolutionary Organization on 17 November (17N) and Revolutionary Popular Struggle (ELA), which carried out various attacks, including the assassination of CIA Station Chief Richard Welch in 1975. The failure of a 2002 operation and subsequent crackdown by Greek authorities diminished 17N, particularly in the lead-up to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. (1)
With time, new groups like the Sect of Revolutionaries emerged. The SR’s debut is tied to the aftermath of the Grigoropoulos incident which occurred in December 2008, where a 15-year-old teenager lost his life to a policeman. Starting in 2009, they led different violent actions, including death threats, bombing, shooting and assassinations of both an anti-terrorist police officer and a journalist. The group is also suspected to have ties to the Balkan criminal world, through which they obtained their weapons. (2)
Despite their notoriety and the impact of their actions, the Sect of Revolutionaries has faced significant setbacks due to counterterrorism efforts. The arrests of key members and the disruption of their operations have hindered their ability to conduct further attacks. (3)
The Sect of Revolutionaries (SR) remained active until 2010 and became dormant in 2011. In 2015, communications between jailed members of the 'Conspiracy of Fire Cells (SPF)—a radical anarchist group known for car bombings—revealed plans to revive the SR and potentially initiate new attacks.
This underscores the connections between anarchist groups in Greece and highlights SR's enduring influence within Greek anarchism, placing the organization as a symbol of
continuity in Greece’s history of political activism. (1)(3)
Objectives and Ideology
The objectives and ideology of the Sect of Revolutionaries are deeply rooted in their belief in the necessity of a violent overthrow of the Greek government to initiate societal and political change. Their ideology, characterized by radical leftist and anarchist principles, advocated for a revolution against what they perceived as a corrupt state apparatus. This perspective aligns with broader themes observed in Greek domestic anarchist terrorism, where groups share a common goal of challenging state power and advocating for radical societal restructuring. The Sect of Revolutionaries saw themselves as part of this broader struggle, aiming to inspire an insurrectionary movement within Greece that would challenge the status quo and instigate revolutionary change. (4)
Military and Political Abilities
The SR demonstrated their military and political capabilities through their strategic use of violence and propaganda. Their actions included assassination attempts, armed raids, car bombs, and rocket attacks against targets they deemed representative of the state and its supportive structures. (4)
These operations aimed to destabilize the government and inspire a broader insurrectionary movement within Greece, a strategy that could be compared to the one used in the propaganda par le fait (“propaganda by the deed”) theory. This political stand, better incarnated in the late 19th century by the Russian anarchist group Narodnaya Volya, holds that only violent action can inspire the people to lead to revolutionary actions. (4)(5)
Approach to Resistance
The SR’s approach to resistance was characterized by its reliance on violent tactics intended to provoke fear and uncertainty within the state and its agencies. The group claimed responsibility for a series of attacks, including the assassination of a journalist and a police officer, marking their violent campaign against figures and institutions they accused of perpetuating the existing societal and political order. (3)(6)
Specifically, the actions of the Sect of Revolutionaries include the assassination of an anti-terrorist police officer in June 2009 and the assassination of the Greek journalist Sokratis Giolias in July 2010, both incidents for which they claimed responsibility. (3)
International Relations & Potential Alliances
Internationally, the SR was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization by the United States, reflecting the global concern over its activities and the threat they posed to Greece and to international security. This designation aimed to cut off the group’s financial support and limit their operational capabilities. (6)
As mentioned before, the SR follows the same philosophical and political doctrine as many anarchist movements internationally and is even in direct line with Greek groups such as 17N, making more than likely the formation of alliances with other local groups sharing the same goals. (1)(4)
Pro-Group and Anti-Group Perspectives
Supporters of the SR might view the group as a radical yet necessary force fighting against state oppression and injustice, aiming to liberate society from the clutches of a corrupt and authoritarian regime. (1)(4)
Critics, however, see the SR as a dangerous terrorist organization whose methods undermine democracy, threaten civil peace, and result in the loss of innocent lives, ultimately harming the very society they claim to fight for. (1)(4)
Works Cited
(1) - "Greek Domestic Terrorism". Counter Terrorism Guide. Accessed March 18, 2024. https://www.dni.gov/nctc/groups/greek_domestic.html
(2) - "Sect of Revolutionaries". Wikipedia. Accessed March 22, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sect_of_Revolutionaries
(3) - Proto Thema. "Jailed terrorists wanted to reconstitute ‘Sect of Revolutionaries’ militant group." Protothema.gr, March 3, 2015. https://en.protothema.gr/jailed-terrorists-wanted-to-reconstitute-sect-of-revolutionaries-militant-group/
(4) - U.S. Department of State. "Department of State's Designation of The Sect of Revolutionaries." Media Note. Office of the Spokesman, Washington, DC, February 24, 2011. Accessed March 19, 2024. Archived at 2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2011/02/157046.htm.
(5) - "Propaganda of the deed". Wikipedia. Accessed March 22, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_of_the_deed
(6) - Popular Front. “Department of State's Designation of The Sect of Revolutionaries”. YouTube video, 28:17. Published June 16 2022. https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2011/02/157060.htm
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