According to a number of reports and complaints, police forces carried out an unprovoked attack on demonstrators who were distributing pamphlets about the struggle of Mr. Hadjianangelos, a prisoner. More specifically, these reports mention, among other things, excessive use of force by the police, kicking and beatings with batons, extensive use of chemicals and flash grenades, as well as insulting-sexist gestures towards demonstrators and bystanders (see more in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
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 Presidential Decrees 538/1989, 141/1991 and 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 the legal limits is a dangerous phenomenon for a democracy.
The reported behaviour of the police authorities towards demonstrators in Thessaloniki and the alleged excessive use of force seems to be beyond the legal limits of police action.
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