Chrysochoidis on "Choriático": Senior police officers possibly involved
The Minister of Citizen Protection confirmed that senior officers may be implicated in the "Choriático" case, whilst warning of arrests if violence or hate rhetoric is repeated.
Chrysochoidis: Senior police officers likely behind "Choriático" case
Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrysochoidis publicly acknowledged that senior officers of the Hellenic Police may be implicated in the "Choriático" case, in an interview with Mega News 104.6, as reported by To Vima. The remarks were made the day after incidents in Thessaloniki, during an event connected with Ilias Kasidiaris, on the eve of 28 October.
Corruption within police ranks
When asked whether senior officials were protecting businessmen within the framework of the "Choriático" case, Chrysochoidis responded affirmatively. "There may have been police officers, there may have been others, and others possibly. They may be senior-ranking," he said, citing as an example recent arrests of police officers in Rhodes, who face felony charges following an investigation by the Internal Affairs Service. "So then the answers are yes," he concluded.
The minister stressed that the Internal Affairs Service, which handles cases of corruption within the force, conducted an independent investigation that led to the aforementioned arrests.
Thessaloniki incidents: Police with "tied hands"
Regarding yesterday's incidents in Thessaloniki, where chemicals were used at a gathering held during a Kasidiaris event, Chrysochoidis explained that police do not have the capacity to prohibit gatherings in enclosed spaces. This limitation was confirmed by the president of the Court of First Instance, who was called upon to provide an opinion.
"Kasidiaris is very repugnant to me. I believe that the phenomenon is genuinely dangerous, however we operate within the framework of a structured democracy," the minister stated. Nevertheless, he sent a clear warning: "If, perchance, they attempt once again to engage in activities of either violence or hate rhetoric or anything else, it is certain that they will be arrested. Both Kasidiaris and the 'Kasidiarists'. I want that to be clear."
Human trafficking of migrants: "10 euros for the armchair"
On the subject of migration, Chrysochoidis described the operating methods of networks exploiting vulnerable people in city centres. Labour traffickers gather migrants every evening from squares and pack them into flats, charging 10 euros for an armchair or 20 euros for a mattress, whilst the residents change almost every night.
"So they collect them every evening from the squares, they accommodate them in a flat with twenty, thirty people. The next night there are different people there. Ten euros is the cost, for example, of the armchair, twenty euros is the cost of the mattress, and so on," he noted.
At the same time, the minister defended the work of the Hellenic Police, emphasising that it respects human rights, but is frequently called upon to fill gaps left by other institutional and social bodies, with the result that it faces the most difficult situations.
Political developments: "PASOK is a more serious space"
On the political aspect of the interview, Chrysochoidis referred to possible government cooperation. "If there is no single-party majority, obviously the most kindred space, the more serious space, the more structured space that has a proposal both for the country as a whole and could constitute a common proposal, is PASOK," he said.
Source: To Vima