Intervention by the Prosecutor of the Supreme Court over farmers’ roadblocks

The Prosecutor of the Supreme Court, Konstantinos Tzavellas, has sent an order to local prosecutorial authorities for the ex officio investigation of offences committed by farmers demonstrating nationwide.

The country’s top prosecutor calls on local prosecutors to intervene wherever there is evidence of possible criminal conduct.

The full announcement

Specifically, the Prosecutor of the Supreme Court, Konstantinos Tzavellas, sent to the Prosecutors of Appeal of the country, and through them to the Prosecutors of First Instance in their districts, the following order:

“In the recent period, the phenomenon has been observed of disruption of the safety of traffic on roads, intentionally, mainly through the placement and maintenance of obstacles, but also through other acts equally dangerous for traffic safety (Article 290 §1 of the current Penal Code), by blocking the circulation of vehicles on public, national and non-national, roads by participants, etc., in the mobilisations of the country’s farmers and livestock breeders.

A similar phenomenon that has been observed, and which constitutes an escalation of the aforementioned, is the disruption of the safety of aircraft traffic, intentionally, mainly through the placement and maintenance of obstacles, but also through other acts equally dangerous for traffic safety, by occupying critical installations – infrastructure and blocking the operation of the airports of Heraklion (‘Nikos Kazantzakis’) and Chania (‘Ioannis Daskalogiannis’), through the entry and stay of protesting farmers and livestock breeders in the ‘airside’ areas and the arrival and departure halls of the airports (Article 291 §1 of the current Penal Code).

Already, the above protesters, as is broadcast via news bulletins, are preparing to proceed to further protest actions, through threatened occupations and blockages of the operation of the country’s ports (Article 291 §1 of the current Penal Code).

A parallel offence, committed through the above-mentioned monitored and observed behaviours, is that of hindering or disturbing to a large extent or for a long period, intentionally, the operation of public transport means and in particular ships, aircraft and buses (Article 292 §1 of the current Penal Code).

As is known, the purpose of the above-mentioned crimes, which are prosecuted ex officio, is the protection of the smooth operation of all kinds of transport facilities intended for public use, which concern society as a whole and are considered social goods of significant value.

According to the applicable provisions of Article 245 §2 of the current Code of Criminal Procedure (CCP), ‘If there are indications that an offence has been committed and there is an imminent danger that evidence will be lost due to delay, or there is difficulty in carrying out a specific investigative act or obtaining evidence in the future, or in the case of a flagrant felony or misdemeanour, the investigative officers under Article 31 are obliged to carry out all investigative actions necessary to establish the act and identify the perpetrator, even without a prior order from the prosecutor. In this case they shall notify the prosecutor by the fastest means and submit without delay the reports they have drawn up. Once the prosecutor receives the reports, he acts in accordance with Articles 43 et seq.’.

As follows from the above, the aforementioned provisions of Article 245 §2 CCP provide for four (4) different cases of ex officio (‘police’) preliminary investigation, for which no prior prosecutorial order is required:

The first concerns the assessment of imminent danger, due to delay, of loss of evidence; the second concerns the assessment of difficulty in carrying out a specific investigative act; the third concerns difficulty in obtaining evidence in the future; and the fourth, the existence of a case of a flagrant felony or misdemeanour.

In all four (4) of the above cases, the general and special investigative officers under Article 31 CCP, as arises from the above provision, are obliged, on the one hand, to notify the Prosecutor, by the fastest possible means, of their conducting the above preliminary investigation without a prosecutorial order, and, on the other hand, after its completion, to submit, without delay, that is, without culpable procrastination, the reports that were drawn up during the preliminary investigation, to the competent Prosecutor of Misdemeanours. In case they fail to carry out the above obligations arising from Article 245 §2 CCP, they are liable both disciplinarily and criminally for breach of official duty (Article 259 of the current Penal Code).

Regardless of the above, I consider it my duty, with this document, to remind the self-evident duty of the competent Prosecutors to intervene, with the assistance of the competent police authorities, in the context of exercising their functional competence under Article 29 §1(d) of Law 4938/2022, with the aim, on the one hand, of establishing the above crimes, and, possibly, other crimes of violence against life and against public officials (Articles 42 §1 in conjunction with 299 §1 and 167 §§1–3 of the current Penal Code) and unprovoked damage to another’s property, to objects used for the public benefit (Article 378 §§1(c)–(a) and 2 of the current Penal Code), which will be found to have been committed during the mobilisations of farmers and livestock breeders, and, on the other hand, of identifying the perpetrators, bringing the appropriate criminal charges against them and referring them for trial before the competent court, under the procedure for flagrant offences or not, as the case may be.”

Where there are farmers’ roadblocks across the country

VIOTIA

PATHE motorway at the 90th km at the height of Thiva:
Traffic is cut off and diverted.
• In the direction towards Athens: from km 107.300 (Akraifnio junction) to km 75.500 (Ritsona junction) of the A.TH.E. motorway, via the Akraifnio–Aliartos National Road, the Livadia–Thiva road and the Thiva–Chalkida road.
• In the direction towards Thessaloniki: from km 75.500 (Ritsona junction) to km 101.000 (Stratopedo junction) of the A.TH.E. motorway, via the Thiva–Chalkida road, the Livadia–Thiva road and the old Livadia–Lamia National Road.

PATHE motorway at the 115th km at the height of Kastro:
Traffic is cut off and diverted.
• In the direction towards Athens: from km 125.770 (Martino junction) to km 75.500 (Ritsona junction), via the motorway service road, the Kastro–Livadia National Road, Livadia–Thiva and Thiva–Chalkida.
• In the direction towards Thessaloniki: from km 75.500 (Ritsona junction) to km 203.065 (Mpralos junction), via Thiva–Chalkida, Livadia–Thiva and the old Livadia–Lamia National Road.

At Schimatari, traffic is flowing normally.

EVIA

In Istiaia, Vathy and Kirinthos, traffic is flowing normally.

FTHIOTIDA

At the height of Mpralos:Traffic is cut off and diverted on the spot from the entry–exit ramps of the Mpralos junction (km 203.065 of the A.TH.E. motorway) in both directions.

ARGOLIDA

At the Malachia junction (3rd km of the old Argos–Corinth National Road):
The Malachia junction is closed and traffic is conducted via alternative routes.

KORINTHIA

Kiaton lateral tolls – Petmezas junction: Traffic to and from Kiato is conducted via alternative routes.

MESSINIA

At the OSE railway station in Messini and at the local community of Chandrinos, Municipality of Pylos–Nestor, traffic is flowing normally.

AKARNANIA (Achaia/Etoloakarnania section as listed):

Patras ring road: Traffic is cut off and vehicles are diverted via alternative routes in the direction to Pyrgos at the Eglykada junction exit and in the direction to Athens at the Ovrya junction exit.

Olympia Odos Patras–Pyrgos, Western Achaia junction:

Traffic is cut off in both directions.
• Direction to Pyrgos: diversion via the Industrial Zone (VI.PE.) junction.
• Direction to Athens: diversion via the Varda junction.

At the junction of the Amfilochia–Lefkada National Road with the Vonitsa–Astakos National Road and on the new Patras–Pyrgos National Road at the Kato Achaia junction at the height of Agios Rafail, traffic is flowing normally.

AITOLIA (Aetolia–Akarnania)

Ionia Odos, Aggelokastro tolls:
Traffic is cut off in both directions.

In Nafpaktos, before the Mornos bridge, traffic is flowing normally, and on the Evinos bridge on the Antirrio–Ioannina National Road, traffic has been restored.

ILIA

On the new Patras–Pyrgos National Road at the Chanakia junction, on the new Patras–Pyrgos National Road at the Lechaina junction and on the Pyrgos–Kyparissia National Road, traffic is flowing normally.

CHANIA

Traffic at the Megala Chorafia junction on the Northern Road Axis of Crete (VOAK) is flowing normally, and at the Chania International Airport, flights are operating normally.

HERAKLION

At the airport junction at the height of Senetakis, traffic is flowing normally.

THESSALONIKI

Athens–Thessaloniki National Road at the Malgara tolls:
Traffic is cut off in the exit direction. Traffic is diverted at km 486 of the Athens–Thessaloniki–Evzoni National Road via Kymyna–Malgara and re-enters at km 483 of the Athens–Thessaloniki National Road. Traffic in the entry direction is flowing normally.

“Prasina Fanaria” (Georgikis Scholis):
Traffic is cut off at the junction of Georgikis Scholis and Polygyrou streets at the height of the Prasina Fanaria traffic lights in both directions.
• Incoming direction to the city: traffic is diverted from the airport junction, then left and right onto Thessalonikis–Peraias road.
• Outgoing direction from the city: traffic is diverted via Asklipiou street towards Thessalonikis–Moudanion road.

On the old Thessaloniki–Edessa National Road at the Chalkidona junction and at Derveni on the service road, traffic is flowing normally.

ORESTIADA

At the Ormenio border crossing point, traffic is flowing normally.

ALEXANDROUPOLI

Kipi border station: Traffic for entry and exit of trucks from Turkey is cut off, except for those carrying perishable goods. Passenger cars and buses are moving normally.

RODOPI

Western Komotini junction of the Egnatia motorway:
Traffic is cut off in the direction towards Igoumenitsa. Vehicles are diverted towards the old Komotini–Xanthi National Road.

At the 4th km of the Komotini–Xanthi National Road, traffic is flowing normally.

XANTHI

Vafeika junction of the Egnatia motorway in the direction towards Komotini:
Traffic is cut off in the direction towards Komotini. Vehicles are diverted to the old Komotini–Xanthi National Road.

KAVALA

At the Chrysoupoli junction on the Kavala–Xanthi National Road and at the Mouztheni junction on the Egnatia motorway and at the Lefas–Chrysanthidis refuelling station, traffic is flowing normally.

DRAMA

At the 15th km of the Drama–Kavala National Road at the Kefalari junction, at the 16th km of the Drama–Exochi National Road at the Kokkinogeia junction, and at the 50th km of the Drama–Exochi National Road at the Ochyro junction, traffic is flowing normally.

IMATHIA

Niselio junction (km 276 of the Egnatia motorway Igoumenitsa–Kipi, direction to Veria):
Traffic on the Egnatia motorway is blocked in the direction to Veria and vehicles are diverted via the old Thessaloniki–Veria National Road.

Gathering points, without traffic issues so far, are also the Kouloura junction in Imathia and the Veria–Skydra provincial road (Naousa railway station junction).

PELLA

Gathering points, without traffic disruptions, are:
• Arnissa–Edessa, “Alisida” junction at the 18th km of the Edessa–Florina National Road,
• km 62.5 of the Edessa–Thessaloniki National Road, Gypsokhori junction,
• at the 3rd km of the Skydra–Veria provincial road (Skydra customs),
• at the Paralimi junction,
• and at the Mesimeri junction.

PIERIA

Gathering points, without traffic disruptions, are:
• in Aiginiο (in front of the municipal football field of Aiginiο),
• at the junction of N. Dika and Mouson streets (extension of the old Katerini–Thessaloniki National Road above tunnel T4),
• and at the Efesos junction (km 427.203).

KILKIS

Gathering point, without traffic disruptions, is at the Evzoni customs post.

HALKIDIKI

Gathering point, without traffic disruptions, is at the Metangitsi Agricultural Cooperative.

SERRES

Gathering points, without traffic disruptions, are at the Promachonas border station and at Nea Zichni.

At km 411.6 of the Egnatia motorway (Kerdyllia junction):
Tractors are parked on both directions of travel and at the edge of the roadway. Traffic is diverted via the old Thessaloniki–Kavala National Road.

GREVENA

Gathering point, without traffic disruptions, is at the Mushroom Park at the entrance to the city of Grevena.

KOZANI

At the Siatista junction on the Egnatia motorway:Traffic on the Egnatia motorway is cut off in both directions. Traffic is diverted via the old Ioannina–Kozani National Road.

FLORINA

At the Filotas junction (40th km of the new Florina–Kozani National Road) and at the old Niki–Florina customs post, traffic is flowing normally.

IOANNINA

At the 33rd km of the Ioannina–Kozani National Road (Kalpakion junction), traffic is flowing normally.

ARTA

Ionia Odos (Arta junction):
Traffic is cut off on Ionia Odos (Arta junction) in both directions.
Diversions:
• At the Arta junction in the direction towards Ioannina,
• At the Filippiada junction in the direction towards Antirrio.
Traffic is conducted via alternative routes.

THESPROTIA

Gathering point, without traffic disruptions, is at the Igoumenitsa stadium.

PREVEZA

Gathering point, without traffic disruptions, is at the 24th km of the Preveza–Kalogyri Bridge National Road (Louros municipal unit).

LARISA

Nikea junction, PATHE motorway at the 348th km:
Traffic of all vehicles is cut off on the PATHE motorway from the Platikampos junction (km 352.918) to the Kileler junction (km 331.686) in both directions, as well as on the entry and exit ramps of the Nikea junction.
Traffic is conducted via diversions.

In Elassona traffic is flowing normally, as it is at the Pyrgetos–Larisa junction.

MAGNESIA

Gathering point, without traffic disruptions, is at the port of Volos.

At the Mikrothives junction: Traffic of all vehicles is cut off in both directions on the PATHE motorway. Traffic is conducted via diversions.

TRIKALA

E65 motorway, Loggos tolls in Trikala: Traffic is cut off from the Proastio junction to the Trikala junction. Traffic is conducted via diversions.

KARDITSA

E65 motorway, Delta Palama junction in Karditsa: Traffic of all vehicles is cut off on the E65 from the Sofades junction to the Proastio junction in both directions, from Delta Palama to the 2nd km of Gorgovites–Delta Palama, at the entry and exit ramps on both sides of the Karditsa junction on the E65 and from the Proastio junction to the Trikala junction.
Traffic is conducted via diversions.

LESVOS

Gathering point, without traffic disruptions, is at Livadochori on the island of Lemnos.