In October and November 2024, reports and audiovisual material were published documenting alleged incidents of excessive and unprovoked police violence against citizens and protesters, as well as damage to private property. These developments led the Thessaloniki Prosecutor’s Office to intervene.
More specifically, on 30 and 31 October, press articles (e.g. parallaximag.gr and efsyn.gr) reported that on 30 October, riot police allegedly used batons and tear gas against individuals, also causing damage to a food establishment, as shown in related video footage. These events followed a protest that had taken place in response to earlier allegations of unprovoked police violence in the park adjacent to the Thessaloniki Labour Centre on 28 October.
According to press reports, police officers allegedly entered a food establishment where patrons were present, causing damage to furniture and deploying tear gas indoors, thereby endangering public safety. The Thessaloniki Prosecutor’s Office has ordered an investigation into the reported incidents to assess whether criminal offences may have been committed. The inquiry is directed against police officers and focuses on potential offences including breach of duty, attempted bodily harm, and damage to private property
Under the rule of law, the actions and operations of police authorities must be governed by certain principles, including the principle of legality, the principle of proportionality, the prohibition of abuse of police power, and the respect for and protection of human rights. The powers of police authorities and the conduct they must observe in the exercise of their duties are regulated, among others, by Presidential Decrees 538/1989, 141/1991, and 254/2004.
Although the police may resort to the use of force in order to enforce the law and protect human rights, this does not mean that all use of preventive or repressive force is lawful. On the contrary, the arbitrary use of force and police action that exceeds legal limits constitutes a dangerous phenomenon for a democracy.
Moreover, police conduct must safeguard—not obstruct or undermine—the unhindered exercise of the right of assembly, which is enshrined in Article 11 of the Constitution: “Greeks shall have the right to assemble peaceably and unarmed.” (Article 11(1)) “The police may be present only at outdoor public assemblies. Outdoor assemblies may be prohibited by a reasoned police authority decision, in general if a serious threat to public security is imminent, and in a specific area, if a serious disturbance of social and economic life is threatened, as specified by law.” (Article 11(2))
In view of this, the conduct of the police authorities in the case under examination raises concerns regarding a possible breach of the legal limits governing police action. As such, the matter should be subject to thorough investigation by the competent oversight institutions.
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