Leaders of Golden Dawn, Greece's new-Nazi group, have been sentenced 13 years of prison on Wednesday as a trial seen as one of the most important in the country's modern political history neared its conclusion.

The jail term for Golden Dawn founder Nikos Michaloliakos capped a stunning downfall for the 62-year-old whose party was the country's third most popular in 2015, the year the trial began.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/neo-nazi-group-branded-as-criminal-organisation-by-greek-court-333125">Neo-Nazi group branded as criminal organisation by Greek court</a>

The mathematician and Holocaust denier, who founded the party in the 1980s and ran it with an iron fist ever since, also received an additional one year for illegal possession of a weapon.

The court also handed a life sentence on Wednesday to&nbsp;Golden&nbsp;Dawn&nbsp;member Yiorgos Roupakias for the murder of anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas in 2013. Roupakias also received an additional 10 years in jail for belonging to a criminal group.

It was the stabbing of Fyssas that prompted authorities to crack down on&nbsp;Golden&nbsp;Dawn&nbsp;amid huge protests across Greece.

The authorities launched an inquiry into whether the party was a criminal organisation in parallel with the criminal investigation into the rapper's murder and into violent attacks on immigrants and left-wing activists.

Greek police had found unlicensed weapons and Nazi flags in the homes of party members. The party accused the government of a politically-motivated conspiracy to rob it of votes.

Golden&nbsp;Dawn&nbsp;entered parliament for the first time in 2012 at the peak of the crisis on a fiercely anti-immigrant platform, tapping into Greeks' anger over painful austerity measures and what many saw as a corrupt and cosy political establishment.

Leaders of Golden Dawn, Greece's new-Nazi group, have been sentenced 13 years of prison on Wednesday as a trial seen as one of the most important in the country's modern political history neared its conclusion.

Leaders of Golden Dawn, Greece's new-Nazi group, have been sentenced 13 years of prison on Wednesday as a trial seen as one of the most important in the country's modern political history neared its conclusion. The jail term for Golden Dawn founder Nikos Michaloliakos capped a stunning downfall for the 62-year-old whose party was the country's third most popular in 2015, the year the trial began. Also read: Neo-Nazi group branded as criminal organisation by Greek court The mathematician and Holocaust denier, who founded the party in the 1980s and ran it with an iron fist ever since, also received an additional one year for illegal possession of a weapon. The court also handed a life sentence on Wednesday to Golden Dawn member Yiorgos Roupakias for the murder of anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas in 2013. Roupakias also received an additional 10 years in jail for belonging to a criminal group. It was the stabbing of Fyssas that prompted authorities to crack down on Golden Dawn amid huge protests across Greece. The authorities launched an inquiry into whether the party was a criminal organisation in parallel with the criminal investigation into the rapper's murder and into violent attacks on immigrants and left-wing activists. Greek police had found unlicensed weapons and Nazi flags in the homes of party members. The party accused the government of a politically-motivated conspiracy to rob it of votes. Golden Dawn entered parliament for the first time in 2012 at the peak of the crisis on a fiercely anti-immigrant platform, tapping into Greeks' anger over painful austerity measures and what many saw as a corrupt and cosy political establishment.

Greece: Neo-Nazi leaders of Golden Dawn imprisoned for 13 years

A Greek court has found the Neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn guilty of acting as a criminal organisation. Watch report.

WION Dispatch: Athens courts' historic verdict, 'Golden dawn a criminal group'

Golden Dawn, Greece's new-Nazi group has been branded as a criminal organisation by a local court. The decision was announced on Wednesday.

As per the decision taken, the leaders associated with the group will be facing a heavy sentence.

This trial was one of the longest trials to take place, as it lasted over five years with&nbsp;Maria Lepenioti as the presiding judge. Lepenioti has branded the founder of Golden Dawn&nbsp;Nikos Michaloliakos as a criminal.

Michaloliakos, along with other members of the neo-Nazi group will be facing a jail sentence ranging from five to 15 years. The sentences will be announced in separate hearings.

People started gathering outside the local court where the trial was to take place. With placards reading&nbsp;"The people want the Nazis in jail", protestors asked for justice.

After the decision was taken,&nbsp;few clashes broke out between police and anti-fascist demonstrators which saw an attendance of nearly 15,000 demonstrators.

The matter had come to light after a 34-year-old&nbsp;anti-fascist rapper called Pavlos Fyssas was chased down by a mob of Golden Dawn thugs and stabbed to death in front of a cafe in the western Athens suburb of Keratsini in September 2013.

The killer, former truck driver Yiorgos Roupakias, confessed, but the attack sparked outrage and the charges that Golden Dawn was a paramilitary-style organisation that used beatings, intimidation and murder as tactics — all with the knowledge of senior party members.

Nearly 68 members were on trial, including the Founder of the group, and were being judged for two-three such cases where people had been chased and/or killed by this new-Nazi group.

The group has had a strong political standing in the past.&nbsp;

Golden Dawn was at its political peak at the time of Fyssas's murder, having won 18 seats in the 300-seat parliament in 2012 amid anger over a financial crisis in Greece that discredited mainstream political parties.

Three years later, it also sent three deputies to the European parliament in another strong showing.

(With inputs from AFP)

Golden Dawn, Greece's new-Nazi group has been branded as a criminal organisation by a local court. The decision was announced on Wednesday. As per the decision taken, the leaders associated with the group will be facing a heavy sentence.

Golden Dawn, Greece's new-Nazi group has been branded as a criminal organisation by a local court. The decision was announced on Wednesday. As per the decision taken, the leaders associated with the group will be facing a heavy sentence. This trial was one of the longest trials to take place, as it lasted over five years with Maria Lepenioti as the presiding judge. Lepenioti has branded the founder of Golden Dawn Nikos Michaloliakos as a criminal. Michaloliakos, along with other members of the neo-Nazi group will be facing a jail sentence ranging from five to 15 years. The sentences will be announced in separate hearings. People started gathering outside the local court where the trial was to take place. With placards reading "The people want the Nazis in jail", protestors asked for justice. After the decision was taken, few clashes broke out between police and anti-fascist demonstrators which saw an attendance of nearly 15,000 demonstrators. The matter had come to light after a 34-year-old anti-fascist rapper called Pavlos Fyssas was chased down by a mob of Golden Dawn thugs and stabbed to death in front of a cafe in the western Athens suburb of Keratsini in September 2013. The killer, former truck driver Yiorgos Roupakias, confessed, but the attack sparked outrage and the charges that Golden Dawn was a paramilitary-style organisation that used beatings, intimidation and murder as tactics — all with the knowledge of senior party members. Nearly 68 members were on trial, including the Founder of the group, and were being judged for two-three such cases where people had been chased and/or killed by this new-Nazi group. The group has had a strong political standing in the past. Golden Dawn was at its political peak at the time of Fyssas's murder, having won 18 seats in the 300-seat parliament in 2012 amid anger over a financial crisis in Greece that discredited mainstream political parties. Three years later, it also sent three deputies to the European parliament in another strong showing. (With inputs from AFP)

Neo-Nazi group branded as criminal organisation by Greek court

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Greece: Neo-Nazi leaders of Golden Dawn imprisoned for 13 years

WION Dispatch: Athens courts' historic verdict, 'Golden dawn a criminal group'

Neo-Nazi group branded as criminal organisation by Greek court