Petros Filippidis

Petros Filippidis in the performance of American Buffalo in 2017

Petros Filippidis (Greek: Πέτρος Φιλιππίδης; born 31 December 1962) is a Greek actor, theatre director and translator. He was one of the most talented and popular actors of his generation, with many theatrical and television successes.[1]

Today, Petros Filippidis, sentenced to 8 years in prison for two attempted rapes from the "Court of first instance", abstains from both the theatre and public life in general, pending the outcome of appeal.[2]

Criminal prosecution

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Greek #me too

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In the winter of 2021, allegations of sexual abuse by famous women began to appear in the media. The allegations of sexual abuse in sports, education, culture and entertainment targeted many popular and respected individuals in Greek society, causing what has been dubbed the "Greek #me too".[3]

In this context, in February 2021, three actresses Anna-Maria Papacharalambous, Lena Drosaki and Penelope Anastassopoulou spoke to TV networks to describe their experiences working with a well-known actor without initially mentioning his name.[4] On February 4, Filippidis, although no official charges or complaints had been filed against the actor, he, through his attorneys, sent an ultimatum to the media, prohibiting any mention of his person in the following days.[5]

On April 7, the three female actresses sent a text with their complaints to the "Greek Actors' Union" - (SEI) (Σωματείο Ελλήνων Ηθοποιών, ΣΕΗ), asking the final deletion of Petros Filippidis from the Union (SEI). In their complaint to the "SEI Disciplinary Committee", filed by their lawyers, they invoked the testimonies of ten additional persons who would support the content of their complaints.[6]

The allegations that were made and related to the commission of criminal offences came to the attention of the Prosecutor who called the actor in April 2021 in apologia.[7] After the apologetic memorandum presented by Filippidis, the prosecutor, he filed criminal charges against him for three cases, the first of which was a rape committed in 2008, while the other two were attempted rapes committed in 2010 and 2014.

In July 2021 Filippidis has been held in custody and transferred in to Tripoli prison where another actor accused of sexual offences, Dimitris Lignadis, was already being held.[8]

Trial 2022-2023

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The trial of Petros Filippidis begin in 28 March 2022 where the first woman who accused him of rape testified.[9] The trial continued further on 1 April 2022 at Mixed Jury Court of Athens with the examination of the first woman who accused him of rape repeatedly.[10]

On 16 May 2022 testified the second woman who accused Petros Filippidis of attempted rape in 2010 in his dressing room at the Mousouri Theatre[11]

He released on 1 July 2022 because of health problems, after he has been in custody since July 2021, on conditions that he banned from leaving the country, must appear at his local police precinct twice a month and a bail payment at 20.000 euros. The reasoning that is he is no longer considered a threat to commit the same crimes.[12][13] On 13 September 2022 the Hellenic Actors' Union (SEI) president Spyros Mpimpilas testified at the court and called Petros Filippidis to apologize to his victims referring that Petros Filippidis, after the first complains, he asked from him to prevent a woman to proceed with a complaint against him.[14] The trial continued on 4 October 2022, where a female journalist testified:They were told me you're fired because you're going to testify in favour of Filippidis.[15] After a summons made by the court, they testified at the trial, Tasos Chalkias, Alina Kotsovoulou, Zeta Makripoulia, Thaleia Matika, Rania Schiza.[16]

On 22 November 2022 testified at the trial actresses Tzouli Souma and Andromahi Davlou who mentioned about everything she experienced in 2000.[17] Referring to the actress Lena Drosaki who and Petros Filippidis were participating at the play Murder on the Orient Express at Theatre Katia Dandoulaki, actress Katia Dandoulaki on her deposition testimony at trial on 24 November 2022 she told about "he had developed one obsession with her" and "everyone would be found trouble when being defended her or being talked with her."[18]

On 24 November 2022 deposed at the trial, an executive member of the private broadcaster ANT1 TV, who, as she declared, in 2016 collaborated with Petros Filippidis on AΝΤ1's Your Face Sounds Familiar, testified that she experienced sexual harassment two times from Petros Filippidis. On 9 January 2023 Petros Filippidis began his deposition at trial.[19][20]

On 13 January 2023, Mixed Jury Court of Athens Prosecutor Stella Stoya proposed Petros Filippidis be charged with two counts of attempted rape and be acquitted regarding the complaint of rape.[21][22] On 8 February 2023 the court announced its verdict unanimously in the trial acquitted Petros Filippidis on a single felony of serial rape charge, and was found guilty of two charges of attempted rape.[23][24]

References

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  1. ^ "Ο ταλαντούχος κύριος Πέτρος Φιλιππίδης". AthensVoice. June 26, 2019.
  2. ^ "Πέτρος Φιλιππίδης: Καταδικάστηκε σε 8 χρόνια κάθειρξη, αλλά αφέθηκε ελεύθερος". ΤΑ ΝΕΑ. February 8, 2023.
  3. ^ Bali, Kaki (21 January 2021). "#MeToo movement takes off in Greece". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Greek theatre's sexual abuse case sparks belated #MeToo movement". Deutsche Welle. 25 February 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Πέτρος Φιλιππίδης: Από τις περίεργες φήμες, στο εξώδικο προς τα ΜΜΕ και στη νοσηλεία με συμπτώματα εγκεφαλικού". The TOC. February 4, 2021.
  6. ^ "Πέτρος Φιλιππίδης: Οι τρεις καταγγελίες που τον ξεσκέπασαν". 27 July 2021. Archived from the original on 2023-09-06.
  7. ^ "Prosecutor recommends actor stands trial for rape". Kathimerini. 7 October 2021. Archived from the original on 18 December 2021.
  8. ^ To Vima, Team (31 July 2021). "Πέτρος Φιλιππίδης – Οι αντιδράσεις του καλλιτεχνικού χώρου στην προφυλάκισή του" [Petros Filippidis - The reactions of the artistic community to his detention] (in Greek). To Vima. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-20.
  9. ^ "Greek #metoo: Actor Petros Filippidis". Oikonomikos Taxydromos. 28 March 2022. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022.
  10. ^ Kokkali, Vasiliki (1 April 2022). "Δίκη Φιλιππίδη: Συνεχίζεται η εξέταση στο δικαστήριο της πρώτης γυναίκας που τον κατήγγειλε για βιασμό κατ' εξακολούθηση" [Petros Filippidis trial: It is continuing the examination at the court of the first woman who accused him of rape repeatedly]. Protothema (in Greek). Archived from the original on 17 May 2022.
  11. ^ "Δίκη Φιλιππίδη: Σε λυγμούς ξέσπασε η δεύτερη καταγγέλλουσα ‒ Σύντομη διακοπή" [Petros Filippidis trial: The second woman complainant burst into sobs ‒ a short break]. LiFO (in Greek). 16 May 2022. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022.
  12. ^ "Actor accused of rape is granted conditional release". Kathimerini. 1 July 2022. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022.
  13. ^ "Αποφυλακίζεται ο Πέτρος Φιλιππίδης – Οι όροι που του επιβλήθηκαν" [Petros Filippidis is being released – The conditions imposed on him]. Athens Voice (in Greek). 1 July 2022. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022.
  14. ^ "Ο Σπύρος Μπιμπίλας στη δίκη Φιλιππίδη ‒ "Μου ζήτησε να αποτρέψω καταγγελία"" [Spyros Mpimpilas at Filippidis trial: «Petros Filipiddis had asked me to prevent a complaint against him»]. Athens Voice (in Greek). 13 September 2022. Archived from the original on 14 September 2022.
  15. ^ "Υπέρ του Πέτρου Φιλιππίδη κατέθεσε πρώην συνεργάτιδά του ‒ "Βοηθούσε ηθοποιούς", υποστηρίζει" [In favour of Petros Filippidis testified a former collaborator of him ‒ «He was helping actors», claims]. Athens Voice (in Greek). 4 October 2022. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022.
  16. ^ "Δίκη Φιλιππίδη: Μακρυπούλια, Χαλκιάς και Σχίζα καταθέτουν σήμερα στο δικαστήριο" [Filippidis trial: Zeta Makripoulia, Tasos Chalkias and Rania Schiza testifying today at court]. Protothema (in Greek). 11 October 2022. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022.
  17. ^ "Δίκη Φιλιππίδη: "Οι απειλές και οι χυδαίες εκφράσεις του ηθοποιού" – Τι κατέθεσαν Τζούλη Σούμα και Ανδρομάχη Δαυλού" [Filippidis trial: «The threats and vulgar expressions of the actor» – What testified Tzouli Souma and Andromahi Davlou]. Dikastiko (in Greek). 22 November 2022. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Η Κάτια Δανδουλάκη καταθέτει στη δίκη Φιλιππίδη: "Προσπαθούσε να ικανοποιήσει την ερωτική του αναζήτηση"" [Katia Dandoulaki testifying at Filippidis trial: «He was trying to satisfy his erotic pursuit»]. Athens Voice (in Greek). 24 November 2022. Archived from the original on 26 November 2022.
  19. ^ "Δίκη Φιλιππίδη: Έφτασαν πιασμένες χέρι χέρι στο δικαστήριο οι ηθοποιοί που τον καταγγέλλουν" [Filippidis trial: Actresses who denounce him arrived at the trial]. Marie Claire Greece (in Greek). 9 January 2023. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023.
  20. ^ "Accused actor insists he is 'not a pervert, not a rapist'". Kathimerini. 10 January 2023. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023.
  21. ^ "Prosecutor Stella Stoya requested the acquittal of Petros Filippidis for repeated rape and guilty for two charges of attempted rape". Oikonomikos Taxydromos. 13 January 2023. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023.
  22. ^ "Δίκη Πέτρου Φιλιππίδη - Εισαγγελέας: "Είχε το σύνδρομο του εξουσιαστή − Δεν μπορούσε να δεχθεί ότι νέες ηθοποιοί του λένε όχι"" [Petros Filippidis trial: «He had the syndrome of master – He could not accept new actresses to say no»]. LiFO (in Greek). 13 January 2023. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023.
  23. ^ "Actor gets 8 years for rape attempts; sentence suspended pending appeal". Kathimerini. 9 February 2023. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023.
  24. ^ ""Metoo" trial verdict in Greece sees actor-director acquitted of rape charge; 2 convictions for attempted rape". Oikonomikos Taxydromos. 8 February 2023. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023.
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