What unfolded on December 6 this year is emblematic of an increasingly authoritarian trend in Greece
Originally published on Global Voices
An epitaph in Athens of Grigoropoulos states, ‘Here, on December 6, 2008, the completely unjustifiable act extinguished the innocent smile of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos with the bullets of unrepentant murderers.’ Photo via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Greek Riot Police (MAT) stand in formation, exuding an oppressive presence in contrast to the lone bystander whose vulnerability shows the stark disparity in power dynamics. Photo by the author, used with permission.
Tear gas soon filled the air, leaving demonstrators coughing and panicked. Through the smoke, riot police (MAT) advanced, encircling and detaining protestors.
The police's approach was methodical and forceful, employing flashbangs, tear gas, and formations to disperse the crowd and corner demonstrators. A considerable number of detentions took place, which later resulted in arrests, with many of them being young adults, some visibly distressed as officers were binding their wrists and forcibly dragging them away. Cries and pleas for mercy echoed through the scene, yet unanswered, amplifying the oppressive atmosphere.
This photo by Craig Wherlock captures protesters detained on John Kouskoura Street. More individuals were later held at this location. Used with permission.
A Greek user on X (formerly Twitter) expressed their discontent with the arrests, arguing that the current government mirrors the characteristics of Greece's junta regime (1967–1974):
Αν σας θυμίζει χούντα, είναι γιατί το κράτος έχει συνέχεια https://t.co/axStGI8F55
— Κάποιος Ταδόπουλος (@_Wiesenthal_S_) December 7, 2024
“If it reminds you of a military junta, it's because the state has continuity”
This photo by Anthi Kekeliadou captures the violent approach of the riot police (MAT) in dispersing the crowd gathered at the courthouse. The riot police even chased after solidarity supporters in an attempt to make additional arrests. Used with permission.
Αν έβρισκαν αποτυπώματα της Μαρέβας σε σακούλα Zeus+Dion στο ανατιναγμένο διαμέρισμα στους Αμπελόκηπους θα την είχαν συλλάβει; Οχι φυσικά.
Αν έβρισκαν αποτύπωμα του Τάδε Ταδόπουλου; Και πάλι όχι.
Τι διαφοροποιεί τον #Ρωμανο; Ότι είναι πρόσωπο με συγκεκριμένες ιδέες. Όχι με… pic.twitter.com/NshyP5mODO— Kostas.Vaxevanis (@KostasVaxevanis) November 30, 2024
If they found Mareva's fingerprints on a Zeus+Dion bag in the exploded apartment in Ampelokipoi, would they have arrested her? Of course not.
If they found the fingerprints of John Doe? Still no.
What sets #Romanos apart? The fact that he is a person with specific ideas. Not someone with incriminating evidence.
What is especially worrying about Romanos’ case is the ongoing state-led efforts to scapegoat dissident movements. Romanos’ supporters view his recent arrest as a deliberate attempt to target him, incite fear, and demonize the anarchist movement.
This strategy also diverts public attention from the state's failures and negligence, such as the tragic Tempi train disaster. The Tempi scandal, a harrowing train crash that claimed 57 lives, exposed systemic negligence and government corruption, sparking widespread outrage. The accusations against Romanos, however tenuous, are widely perceived as part of a broader narrative aimed at silencing dissent and deflecting blame from the ruling New Democracy Party led by current Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
What unfolded on December 6 this year is emblematic of an increasingly authoritarian trend in Greece. The police's brutal response to peaceful protestors underscores a troubling reality: dissent is being stifled under the pretence of maintaining order and peace. For many Greeks, the events are a stark reminder that the country's democratic values remain compromised, with citizens left voiceless against state-sponsored repression.
Riot police (MAT) stand in tense formation moments before beginning their violent crackdown on protesters. Photo by the author, used with permission.
As a journalist and witness, I cannot ignore the brutality and the calculated efforts to silence those mourning Grigoropoulos’ death, a tragedy that symbolizes the ongoing struggle for justice in Greece.
