Regime that silenced any voice of opposition

Court of Human Rights president Jean-Paul Costa criticised the UK government as being like the Greek junta - a series of right-wing military governments that ruled Greece for seven years.

The junta's rule began on 21 April, 1967, when a group of army officers led by Colonel George Papadopoulos seized power in a coup d'etat.

The junta imposed strict controls on the Greek media and banned any political opposition.

The Greek military police and its Special Interrogation Unit terrorised opponents of the regime, and citizens were arrested for speaking out on the lack of freedom. In November 1973, after attempts at liberalisation by Col Papadopoulos, students refused to leave Athens Polytechnic for four days.

They did not overthrow the regime, but the students' protest has been credited with leading to the downfall of the junta in July 1974.