march 30, 2024
Obituary for Michalis Charalampidis
We were informed with great sadness that one of the leaders of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), Mr. Michalis Charalampidis, has passed away. Michalis Charalampidis was a dear friend of the Kurdish people as well as a supporter of the Pontic people’s cause for independence; he lived and worked with Kurds in Greece and the Middle East for many years. Mr. Michalis Charalampidis, had also conducted numerous visits and interviews with our leader, Abdullah Öcalan, in Syria during the 1990s.
The Charalampidis family originates from Trabzon, from which they fled to Greece as a result of the oppression and atrocities committed by the Turkish government. One of the people who worked to bring the genocide committed against Pontic people by the Turkish state to light, was Mr. Charalampidis. As a militant of the Pontic people, Mr. Charalampidis stood out and brought attention to their cause worldwide. In addition, he established a friendly relationship between the Greek, Pontic, and Kurdish peoples by introducing them to one other.
For his entire life, Michalis Charalampidis fought for a just and democratic system, and a free and equal society in Greece. His exceptional performance in a number of fields helped him gain esteem as a Greek citizen. He worked as a friend and a comrade in the resolution of the Kurdish question. He has authored and published numerous books on the Pontic and Kurdish topics, and he backed and defended the Rojava movement from the very beginning. In this context, he has also produced and distributed several articles and interviews. Being an authority on the Pontic and Kurdish problems, he has spoken at numerous conferences, seminars, and panels all over the world.
The Kurdish, Greek, and Pontic peoples mourn his passing deeply. We would like to extend our sympathies to his family, friends, and the Greek and Pontic people, as we profoundly regret his passing.
We shall always remember Michalis Charalampidis and carry his memory ahead in the fight for Kurdistan’s independence.
Co-Presidency
KCK Executive Council