Freedom Fighter. Michalis Karolis was a freedom fighter during the Cyprus Emergency, which started on April 1, 1955, as the British colonial Cyprus was attempting to break from British rule. A civil servant in the British Colonial administration, he became a member of the EKOA, the National Organization of Cypriot Fighters. During this period, there was unrest with rioting in the streets with imposed curfews to maintain law and order. On August 28, 1955, he assassinated P.C. Michael Poullis, a Cypriot Police Officer, in broad daylight with witnesses at the Ledra Palace Hotel in Central Nicosia. Poullis was a member of the Special Branch who was assigned to spy on the EKOA's activities. Karaolis was apprehended while fleeing to meet with Gregoris Afxentous in the Kyrnia Mountains. He was under the orders of General George Grivas, leader of the EKOA. His defense was the bullet that killed Poullis came from the gun of Andreas Panagiotou. He was found guilty and was sentenced to execution by hanging. He was one of the nine who were executed during the Cyprus Emergency. His death brought international attention to the crisis in Cyprus. There are several memorials for him throughout Cyprus. Located on Dimostheni Severi Avenue in Nicosia, a 12-foot-high memorial monument was dedicated to Karolis on October 28, 1967. The huge monument has a metal relief of his face on the front, and on the top of the monument, three statues of young freedom fighters, with two aiding a wounded comrade and inscribed is "Martyr in the name of Freedom and Greece, Memory attributed immortality to you by placing you on this pedestal, You show to our children the way of honor."
Freedom Fighter. Michalis Karolis was a freedom fighter during the Cyprus Emergency, which started on April 1, 1955, as the British colonial Cyprus was attempting to break from British rule. A civil servant in the British Colonial administration, he became a member of the EKOA, the National Organization of Cypriot Fighters. During this period, there was unrest with rioting in the streets with imposed curfews to maintain law and order. On August 28, 1955, he assassinated P.C. Michael Poullis, a Cypriot Police Officer, in broad daylight with witnesses at the Ledra Palace Hotel in Central Nicosia. Poullis was a member of the Special Branch who was assigned to spy on the EKOA's activities. Karaolis was apprehended while fleeing to meet with Gregoris Afxentous in the Kyrnia Mountains. He was under the orders of General George Grivas, leader of the EKOA. His defense was the bullet that killed Poullis came from the gun of Andreas Panagiotou. He was found guilty and was sentenced to execution by hanging. He was one of the nine who were executed during the Cyprus Emergency. His death brought international attention to the crisis in Cyprus. There are several memorials for him throughout Cyprus. Located on Dimostheni Severi Avenue in Nicosia, a 12-foot-high memorial monument was dedicated to Karolis on October 28, 1967. The huge monument has a metal relief of his face on the front, and on the top of the monument, three statues of young freedom fighters, with two aiding a wounded comrade and inscribed is "Martyr in the name of Freedom and Greece, Memory attributed immortality to you by placing you on this pedestal, You show to our children the way of honor."
Bio by: Linda Davis
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