In a twitter post, Varoufakis describes the use of tear gas by police during a demonstration. Varoufakis asked a riot police officer not to use more and to let the older demonstrators leave the scene.
The police officer initially insulted him and refused, and when told that Varoufakis was an MP, insulted him again, saying that his status as an MP was all the more reason to insult him. The demonstration followed the announcement of the decision in the Golden Dawn trial (see more in 1, 2, 3).
The ensuing investigation was halted after it reportedly proved too difficult to identify the officer in question.
In a state governed by the rule of law, the action and functioning of 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 respect for and protection of human rights. In addition, as stated in Presidential Decree 254/2004, police officers must perform their duties with impartiality, objectivity, transparency, self-control and dignity.
When abusive behaviour is reported, the complaint must be investigated by the competent administrative bodies in a complete and effective manner. The failure to pursue this case creates serious concerns, raising questions about whether the alleged illegal/arbitrary actions of police officers are investigated in an effective manner.
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