Chrysochoidis: 3,254 arrests in two years – Pizza Fan, Kasidiaris and neighbourhood safety
The Minister for Citizens' Protection presented figures on the actions of the "Greek FBI" and called for immediate legal clarification regarding Kasidiaris rallies.
"Greek FBI": 5,459 suspects, 259 dismantled organisations in two years
In an interview with ERT, as reported by Newsit.gr, Minister for Citizens' Protection Michalis Chrysochoidis presented detailed figures on the operation of the Organised Crime Response Directorate — the service known as the "Greek FBI".
Over a two-year operational period, a total of 5,459 individuals were charged, of whom 3,254 were arrested and 814 remanded in custody. In parallel, 259 criminal organisations were dismantled.
Chrysochoidis revealed that the creation of the service was "his personal vision" and "a strategic objective as a politician". The Directorate is staffed by police officers with specialist training, who are evaluated annually, though they are not included in a separate pay structure.
"Consequently, Greece today has a service that is so worthy of respect, so effective," the minister stated characteristically.
Pizza Fan and "Choriátiko": one and a half years under investigation
The minister was asked how major cases of alleged tax fraud — connected to the Pizza Fan chain and the "Choriátiko" bakeries — remained uninvestigated for years.
His answer was brief: "a disorganised state cannot dismantle organised crime". This, he explained, was the principal reason for establishing the new service — tackling complex cases requires organisation, specialised staff and time.
Chrysochoidis revealed that both cases had already been under investigation for one and a half years before authorities took relevant action. He also noted that establishing the Directorate required extensive legal preparation, including drafting an "institutional text that constitutes the founding declaration" of the service.
Neighbourhood safety and demonstrations
Responding to criticism over excessive police presence, Chrysochoidis defended the government's approach: "the matter of safety is a great good for everyone and a constitutional right for all citizens".
For the minister, true safety is measured by whether each citizen can return home without fear, even late at night. "If we manage that, then we will have succeeded in achieving safety in daily life and social peace in our daily existence," he stated.
Regarding demonstrations, the minister clarified that the Police's mission is to protect the right to protest, not to break up gatherings. He acknowledged, however, that in certain cases chemical agents are used or "incidents occur that should not happen", whilst emphasising the Police's obligation to protect lives and property.
"There are cases where chemical agents are used. There are cases where certain things happen which we do not like, but on the other hand the police are obliged to protect people's lives," he noted.
Regarding the anniversaries of the Polytechnic and the murder of Alexandros Grigoropoulos, he appeared optimistic: "the overwhelming majority of protesters want to demonstrate peacefully", while those who attempt to cause incidents "are under control and under surveillance," he said.
Kasidiaris: "A very dangerous phenomenon"
Particular weight was given to the minister's statements regarding the rally organised by Ilias Kasidiaris on 28 October at a Thessaloniki hotel.
Chrysochoidis explained that the Police had appealed to the judicial authorities, requesting that the event not take place. The President of the Thessaloniki Court of First Instance responded that "we cannot prohibit a gathering which takes place in a closed space". "It is illegal, that is, for the police to cancel it," the minister clarified.
The Police proceeded to ban gatherings in a specific area of Thessaloniki to prevent clashes between different groups.
Chrysochoidis made clear that he disagreed with the event taking place and called for immediate review of the legal framework for similar cases:
"I am with those who say that we should not have allowed Kasidiaris to hold this rally. I propose that, since from now on we will see Kasidiaris travelling around Greece holding rallies and counter-rallies occurring, we resolve these matters immediately, so that the police knows exactly what to do. Personally, I believe that this 'Kasidiaris' phenomenon and all the 'Kasidiarises' are very dangerous and we risk bringing back to the surface horrific phenomena that we experienced some ten years ago," he stated characteristically.
With these remarks, the minister openly raised the issue of reconsidering the legal status governing public gatherings by those convicted of participation in a criminal organisation.
Source: Newsit.gr