Chrysochoidis on Argos: Police officers cannot murder children

“The police have a duty to arrest murderers, not to kill children,” Minister for Citizen Protection Michalis Chrysochoidis said, referring to the two police officers who shot the 20-year-old during a pursuit in Argos.

Speaking to SKAI 100.3, the minister said that the two officers “did not act properly and a child lost his life”, adding that “there are rules of engagement”.

“The laws governing the use of firearms are clear,” he noted, adding that “what must come first is precious human life. In that sense, not only should this not have happened, but it is an action that must be examined by the courts under criminal law and in relation to dereliction of duty.”

It is recalled that the two police officers are facing charges of attempted murder with possible intent. However, following the death of the 20-year-old, the charge is, as expected, likely to be upgraded.

“The gathering of evidence in the Marfin case began as early as 2019”

Mr Chrysochoidis also referred to developments concerning the arson attack on Marfin, arguing that the latest events are the result of a years-long police investigation and expressing surprise at the scenarios that, as he said, are being circulated around the case.

The minister explained that the collection of evidence began as early as 2019. He said that, after his return to the ministry in 2024, the case file was assigned to the Greek FBI and the Homicide Department, which carried out a fresh assessment of the evidence.

“Not because some email arrived,” he stressed, noting that the progress in the case was due to many months of work by police officers. “All these police officers and I sat down and worked for two years. In the end, all these officers put their signatures beneath specific conclusions,” he said.

He pointed out that the findings of the investigation have already been forwarded to the investigating magistrate and the Prosecutor’s Office, while all the relevant material is now in the hands of the judicial authorities.

At the same time, he acknowledged that mistakes had been made in the past during the investigation of the case, recalling that individuals who had been referred to trial in 2014 were ultimately acquitted.

Commenting on the opposition’s reactions to the arrests 16 years later, he said that instead of looking at how justice could be served, “we started coming up with scenarios”.

He also recalled the Tzortzatos case, saying that he had been arrested and then released following complaints by human rights advocates. A few years later, the minister added, it was proven that he was a murderer belonging to the November 17 terrorist organisation and he was convicted of five murders. “Everyone should be careful,” Mr Chrysochoidis stressed.

Finally, referring to the case involving the terrorist attacks in Thessaloniki, he said that the Hellenic Police had done an excellent job and had prepared a model case file.