On 13-12-2022 it was announced that the minor Kostas Fragoulis, who was shot in the head by a policeman, lost his battle for life. Following this announcement, a series of protest marches took place.
Reportedly, during these demonstrations, there were unprovoked and violent arrests/detentions of protesters and passers-by as well as the unprovoked use of chemicals (for details of the reported incidents see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).
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, the behavior which, according to complaints and reports, was displayed by the police forces (violent and unprovoked arrests and detentions, unprovoked use of chemicals) on 13-12-2022 during demonstrations does not seem, however, to be in line with the above-mentioned requirements.
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