On May 6, 2025, police officers in Mykonos reportedly assaulted a diabetic patient and subjected him to arbitrary detention at the Mykonos Police Sub-Directorate, despite the fact that he was suffering from hypoglycemic shock and required urgent medical care (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). The victim, 45-year-old Andreas Gryparis, subsequently filed a lawsuit with the Prosecutor’s Office of Syros against the officers involved.
According to press reports, the police mistook his medical condition for drug use. Witnesses described that he was forcibly removed from his vehicle, kicked, and dragged despite his attempts to explain that he was unwell. The incident has been presented as a case of police arbitrariness, raising serious concerns about compliance with constitutional and legal safeguards regarding the conduct of law enforcement officers.
In statements to Star TV, Mr. Gryparis explained that he is diabetic and, upon disembarking from the ship, realized he was experiencing a hypoglycemic shock. He moved to a nearby parking area but briefly lost consciousness. When he regained awareness, police officers approached him, questioned him, and forcibly removed him from his car. He emphasized that during such episodes he is unable to speak, walk, or move, although he remains fully conscious and aware.
He further recounted that the officers used violence against him, restraining his hands behind his back and dragging him while accusing him of drug use. Due to his medical condition, his pupils were dilated, which the officers misinterpreted. He described being unable to move while subjected to force, placed in handcuffs, and struck in the ribs — injuries he still suffers from. According to his account, a friend intervened by calling and alerting the officers that his blood sugar had dropped, after which he was taken to a health center. What troubled him most, he added, was that when his father contacted the police, they dismissed his condition and accused him of lying and being delusional.
In his lawsuit concerning alleged police misconduct, Mr. Gryparis described that while experiencing a hypoglycemic shock and having parked safely, two police officers forcibly removed him from his car, assaulted him, handcuffed him, and took him to the Mykonos Police Sub-Directorate. He stated that no medical care was provided at the station and that the officers failed to recognize his medical condition.
The complaint further noted that only after a friend informed the police of his diabetes was he given sugar and water, at which point the handcuffs were removed. The lawsuit emphasized that he suffered abusive treatment resulting in visible injuries, corroborated by a medical report from the Mykonos Health Center documenting swelling, abrasions, bruises, and redness in multiple areas of his body.
Mr. Gryparis argued that the incident violated provisions of both the Penal Code and Presidential Decree 141/1991, which regulates police conduct. He stressed that no criminal offense was ever substantiated against him, that his detention lacked legal basis, and that the excessive use of force could have been fatal given his medical condition. He specifically pointed to Article 95 of the Decree, which allows police to detain individuals only when there are reasonable suspicions of criminal activity, noting that he had simply fainted at the wheel due to diabetes.
In response, the Hellenic Police denied the allegations of excessive force. Their statement argued that the position of his vehicle posed a heightened risk of accident, endangering himself, the officers, and passersby. They maintained that the officers acted professionally and calmly, securing and removing him from the vehicle and relocating it to safety.
The police added that once at the station, and after communication with a relative, it was confirmed that he suffered from a medical condition. Emergency medical services were called, and he was transferred to the Mykonos Health Center. According to the police, their actions were guided solely by the need to protect his life and prevent a potentially tragic accident, and they rejected any contrary claims as unfounded.
In a state governed by the rule of law, the actions and functioning of police authorities must be guided by fundamental principles such as legality, proportionality, the prohibition of abusive exercise of police power, and respect for and protection of human rights. The responsibilities of police authorities and the conduct required of them in the performance of their duties are regulated, among other provisions, by Presidential Decrees 538/1989, 141/1991, and 254/2004.
Although the police are empowered to use force when necessary to enforce the law and protect human rights, this does not mean that any preventive or repressive use of force is lawful. On the contrary, arbitrary use of force and police action that exceeds legal limits represent a dangerous phenomenon for a democracy.
In light of these considerations, the case at hand raises serious concerns regarding compliance with the legal framework governing the lawful operation of the Hellenic Police, with the aim of preventing excessive and arbitrary violence against citizens. This issue must be thoroughly investigated by the competent state authorities and the judiciary.
Bank Account number: 1100 0232 0016 560
IBAN: GR56 0140 1100 1100 0232 0016 560
BIC: CRBAGRAA
In a time where the very foundations of democracy are gradually being eroded by the rise of extreme nationalism, alt-right movements, the spread of disinformation and corporate capture, the efforts of organisations such as Vouliwatch are more relevant than ever.
We rely on the generosity of each and every one of you to continue with our efforts for more transparency and accounta
By financially supporting Vouliwatch you support our litigation strategy, our campaigns for transparency and accountability in the political system, the development of new civic tech tools, our research projects and last but not least our impartial and accurate