Alket Rizai, the Albanian convicted of murder and known for two spectacular escapes from Greek prisons, has returned to the spotlight for the way he has repeatedly benefited from prison breaks. According to data reported in Greece, as of 2021, Rizai had received a total of 16 prison breaks, despite his criminal history and two helicopter escapes from Korydallos prison.
Prisoner permits are granted after meeting certain legal requirements. The prison council reviews the request and gives its opinion, while the prosecutor makes the final decision, assessing the prisoner’s behavior, his stay in prison and the way he has respected previous permits. In Riza’s case, it is precisely the high number of permits that raises questions about how his dangerousness was assessed and whether the system took into account his history of escapes.
According to reports, during his last leave, Rizai was involved in an armed incident outside a beach bar in Saronida. Following the incident, Greek authorities continue to search for him and his whereabouts are still unknown.
The convict was executed inside the prison.
Meanwhile, Riza’s name has also been mentioned in another serious incident that occurred inside Greek prisons. On February 18, 2026, Greek convict Antonis Papadatos was executed in his office in Domokos prison. Papadatos, 43, was being held for the murder of Dimis Korfiatis in Zakynthos. Authorities suspect that he was shot to death by a Bulgarian convict, accused of the 2018 murder of businessman Yannis Makris in Voula.
A prison guard and Alket Rizai were also present at the time of the execution. The Albanian’s role in the incident remains unclear. Rizai became known in Greece on June 4, 2006, when he escaped from Korydallos prison by helicopter together with Vasilis Paleokostas, one of the most wanted persons by the Greek authorities. The escape caused a wave of criticism of the security measures in Greek prisons. But history repeated itself on February 22, 2009, when Rizai and Paleokostas escaped again by helicopter from Korydallos.
After the second escape, Rizai was arrested a few months later, while repeated events raised serious questions about the security of the Greek penitentiary system.