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Founder of 'Ark of the World' and 4 Collaborators Found Guilty of Child Abuse

Published February 19, 2026, 09:12
Founder of 'Ark of the World' and 4 Collaborators Found Guilty of Child Abuse

The Athens Court of Appeals found the founder of 'Ark of the World', Antonios Papanikolaou, and four of his associates guilty of acts of severe punishment against children housed in the NGO's facilities. Papanikolaou was convicted of nine out of the 19 charges against him, while he had been convicted of five in the first instance. The charges include grievous bodily harm to minors, moral instigation to dangerous and simple bodily harm, and threats. Simultaneously, four collaborators were convicted of similar acts, while two were fully acquitted. Among those convicted are a former member of the Board of Directors, the former head of educators in Volos, and the former director of the Volos facility.