Sotiris Bletsas

Sotiris Bletsas (Greek: Σωτήρης Μπλέτσας) is an architect and Aromanian language activist from Greece.

In 1995, at an Aromanian festival in Greece, he distributed some EBLUL material about minority languages in Greece. A protest of the Association of Aromanians in France (AFA) outlining the details of Bletsas' arrest and conviction (in French) [http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/bhr/english/countries/greece/comunicatafa.doc] ] In 2001, on an initiative of the MP for Edessa Evgenios Haïtidis, he was charged with "dissemination of false information" (contrary to article 191 of the Greek Penal Code) who reportedly was supported by the leadership of the Panhellenic Federation of Cultural Associations of Vlachs. [ [http://www.nakratzas.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=63&Itemid=78 Dr. G. Nakratzas - Political advicer of EFA - 11.2 ] ] The case drew protest from the Greek Helsinki Monitor [ [http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/bhr/english/index.html The BALKAN Human Rights Web Pages ] ] and from abroad. [ [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/omk/sipade3?PROG=WQ&L=EN&PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+E-2001-1325+0+DOC+SGML+V0//EN&LEVEL=2 E-1325/01 ] ]

He was first found guilty and sentenced to fifteen months in jail, suspended for three years, and fined 500,000 drachmas, however, he successfully appealed the decision and was subsequently found not guilty on 18 October 2001. ["Minority Language Activist Bletsas Found Not Guilty in Historic Court Decision", [http://www.florina.org/html/2001/2001_bletsas_acquitted.html] ]

ee also

*Aromanian language
*Human rights in Greece

References