Konstantinos Passaris, the Greek murderer sentenced to life for several murders, was moved from Arad to Craiova

Konstantinos Passaris, nicknamed “Beast from the Balkans”, was transferred with increased security measures at the end of last week from the penitentiary in Arad to the one in Craiova, Gândul revealed on Monday. A trade unionist from the National Penitentiary Administration told Digi24 that the transfer was necessary because of the influence of the clan leaders in the penitentiary.

“He needs to be moved from prison to prison because he influences the clan leaders in the prisons, in the sense that he can manipulate them to his advantage. May attack colleagues. Increased security measures will be provided in Craiova as well. They are complementary measures to reduce the risk of an escape, riot, critical incidents. It greatly influences the prisoners with whom they come into contact”, explained Cosmin Dorobanțu, the president of the Federation of Trade Unions from the National Administration of Penitentiaries.

He pointed out that “there were myths that he had learned all the architecture of the prison, which he wanted to use to escape”, another reason why he was moved.

The trade unionist emphasized that precisely this influence and the reputation he enjoys, being considered by some including the most dangerous prisoner in Romania, are the reasons why he is often moved from one penitentiary to another. In the past, Passaris was imprisoned in Craiova, from where he went to Gherla, because he was a stress factor for the guards. During the 20 years of detention, he also spent time in Rahova.

Who is Konstantino Passaris?

The “Beast of the Balkans” was sentenced to life in prison in July 2003 for killing a cashier and a security guard in a November 2001 robbery at a Bucharest currency exchange. He previously killed two Greek policemen after escaping from the Greek prison where he was being held.

Konstantinos Passaris is serving a life sentence in Romanian prisons, but he also has a sentence in Greece with four life sentences, plus another 49 years in prison for murder, attempted murder and armed robbery.

He is considered one of the bloodiest criminals in Europe, and his deeds are recorded in the eight European arrest warrants through which the Greek authorities recently requested his extradition to Greece.