Greece: Violent and arbitrary arrest of journalist Giorgos Androutsos must be investigated
Source: European Federation of Journalists
On 31 October 2024, Giorgos Androutsos, a Greek journalist for the newspaper “Rizospastis”, was violently attacked and arrested by police while covering protests by seasonal firefighters in front of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection. The journalist was released from custody on 1 November.
The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) together with their Greek affiliates – the Union of Journalists of Athens Daily Newspapers (JUADN), the Journalists’ Union of Macedonia and Thrace (ESIEMTH), the Panhellenic Federation of Journalists’ Union (PFJU) – strongly condemn the police violence on journalist Androutsos as well as his arbitrary arrest, and urge for sanctions against the perpetrators to avoid a chilling effect on press freedom.
On 31 October, seasonal firefighters protested outside the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection in Athens after their short-term contracts expired as the dire wildfire season came to an end. While documenting the violent clashes with the police, Giorgos Androutsos was thrown to the ground, beaten, and dragged, despite Christos Katsotis, a Greek Communist Party member of parliament, clearly warning the police he was a journalist as recorded in a video.
“Before I c[ould] take a picture they pull[ed] me by the arms. I shout[ed] out my status. They continue[d] undeterred and even stronger. They thr[ew] me down. They drag[ged] me around like a sack. Nearby I s[aw] a seasonal fallen to the ground being stepped on,” explained Androutsos on the Rizospastis news portal.
The journalist was then handcuffed and transferred to the Directorate of Police Department (GADA). Injured, the journalist was then taken to the hospital “Evangelismos” for medical examination at night. After spending the night at the hospital, Androutsos was transferred back to the police station, before being released by order of the prosecutor and after a report had been filed.
“As our Greek affiliates have pointed out, Androutsos’ arrest and assault took place even though the police were aware of his journalistic status, which makes this unacceptable incident all the more outrageous. The police must protect journalists, not harm them to silence their work. Under no circumstances should police violence or arbitrary arrests be tolerated. We demand the attack does not go unpunished,” said the EFJ-IFJ.
The Federations stand in full solidarity with the journalist and his family who are deeply shocked by the attack and encourage all journalists facing intimidation and police violence to report the attacks.
The IFJ-EFJ demand that Member States fully implement the European Commission’s Recommendation on the protection, safety, and empowerment of journalists.
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