Dido Sotiriou

When, in December 1950, the security forces arrested Nikos Belogiannis's partner,
Elli Pappa,
her sister, Dido Sotiriou,
She was desperately looking for someone with connections who could save her
………………………………………..
She turned to her upper-class acquaintances and ended up reaching out to an old friend,
with enormous influence and connections
………………………………………..
After the initial contact, her wealthy friend went all the way to the security director, Yiannis Panopoulos,
who taught her and made suggestions during her second date with Dido Sotiriou
………………………………………..
That was the system the security department followed at the time
He was eager for you to work with him at first,
even if only a little,
even if only faintly
and
little by little, without even realizing it
while
You had started by cutting the nail on the little finger of your hand,
you ended up
to have given the entire arm
………………………………………..
That's pretty much how Dimitris Batsis got caught too
(I'll write them down soon)
………………………………………..
So when they met for their second date,
My friend made the whole thing sound melodramatic, and
Elli suggested that she work with her, even if only for a little while, even if it was just a small part
That was the only way he could save her
………………………………………..
He even told her that they could get Ellie released from prison and bring her here to her friend's house,
Let the two sisters speak
and for Dido to convince Ellie to work together in some way
………………………………………..
Dido told her then that Ellie would never accept even the slightest thing
………………………………………..
and then a barrage of arguments followed
«It's a big deal to get her out of that hell and bring her here, even if it's just so you can talk to her.»
«We could all chip in to send her to study abroad at a university.»
………………………………………..
«Otherwise, we won't be able to save her life.»
………………………………………..
and Dido Sotiriou
replied:
I DON'T THINK LIFE IS MORE BURDENSOME THAN SHAME
said
and he left….
………………………………………..
this phrase,
I think,
that it is the most striking phrase in modern Greek literature
………………………………………..
on this day, February 18, 1909,
in Aydin, Asia Minor,
Dido Sotiriou was born
………………………………………..
P.S. Her book, *Command*, is, in my opinion,
the most compelling Greek book

Author of the article:

Yannis Golias