Greek far-right Golden Dawn holds rally in Athens

Golden Dawn members rallied outside the party's headquarters where the party leader Nikolaos Michaloliakos delivered a speech.

Michaloliakos said that they "honor the memory of three young men" adding that "coincidentally this day falls near a great date in history, February 4, 1843, when Theodoros Kolokotronis, the father of the nation died."

In 1996, a territorial conflict between Greece and Turkey over the small islands of Imia/Kardak, as referred to by Athens or Ankara respectively, reached new heights. Both countries sent troops and prepared for an imminent armed confrontation. A military conflict was avoided after both nations withdrew their troops following diplomatic pressure by the United States.

However, three Greek soldiers were killed during the crisis when a Greek Army helicopter crashed on the island during a reconnaissance mission. Golden Dawn has marked the dispute since, with violent clashes breaking out between members and Anita protesters during a commemoration march in 2008.