On 22 November 2022, a police operation took place (1, 2) in order to arrest a person suspected of arson attacks. During this operation, 78 persons were arrested for the offences of violence against officials, disturbing the peace, causing bodily harm and grievous bodily harm, attempted property damage, as well as for violations of weapons legislation (see statements by the Minister of Civil Protection).
However, according to reports and complaints (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5), during this operation the police forces showed violent and abusive behaviour and made unjustified/unwarranted arrests. It should be noted that among those arrested were a photojournalist (see more on the case here) and a lawyer (see more here).
The press release by the 6 defence lawyers for those arrested described armed police officers entering the neighbourhood on Tuesday 22/11 and “beating and arresting 78 people without reason.” Residents, solidarity workers, women and children, including a pregnant woman and people in ill health, as well as a lawyer and a photojournalist were among those who suffered an “orgy of repression and abuse for more than 24 hours,” following which many needed medical treatment due to the beatings, claims the press release.
After a night of detention in reportedly inhuman conditions, the detainees were taken to the Evelpidon Courts. During the transfer of the defendants to the courtroom, police officers allegedly “attacked” solidarity demonstrators furiously, seriously injuring the lawyer who had been released shortly before. Other attacks reportedly followed, where defendants, lawyers and members of the public were beaten and mobile phones were forcibly removed to prevent the scenes from being recorded (see 1, 2, 3).
In a state governed by the rule of law, the police authorities must be governed by certain principles, including the principle of legality, the principle of proportionality, the prohibition of the abuse of police power, and the respect for and protection of human rights.
The powers of the police authorities and the conduct to be displayed by them in the performance of their duties are regulated, inter alia, by Decree 141/1991 and Decree 254/2004.
Although the police may use force to enforce the law, this does not mean that all use of preventive or repressive force by the police is lawful. On the contrary, the arbitrary use of the power to use force and police action in excess of legal limits is a dangerous phenomenon for a democracy.
However, according to reports, police officers made unjustified arrests and displayed violent/abusive behaviour during a police operation. Similar complaints have been made about the behaviour of the police forces following the transfer of the detainees to Evelpidon.
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