"With concern, though not surprise, we have been following attempts to portray the protests over the Tempe disaster as part of a plan for ‘political subversion and disorder,’” wrote four Oxford academics in a joint statement. Their remarks came in response to a post by fellow Oxford professor Stathis Kalyvas, who had put forward this view in his own publication.

“This coordinated and dangerous attempt to undermine citizens’ constitutionally and internationally protected right to strike and protest is something we strongly oppose,” they emphasised.

In his initial post, Stathis Kalyvas claimed:
“What is being planned and organised in the wake of the Tempe disaster is nothing less than a scheme of political subversion and disorder—an exact replica, in content, methodology, and objectives, of similar situations we have witnessed in the past.”

He went on to argue:
“If some people dislike the government, there is a democratic way to change it—that’s called elections. Not blackmail and destruction, as we saw in December 2008, May 2010, or February 2012—always orchestrated by the same people, who never, ever, face consequences. Because, for some strange reason, justice is consistently absent in such cases. Shall we recall that the perpetrators of the Marfin Bank killings were never found?”

The response to these remarks came from four Oxford professors:

  • Aris Katzourakis, Professor of Evolution and Genomics
  • Petros Ligoxygakis, Professor of Immunology
  • Dimitris Papanikolaou, Professor of Modern Greek and Cultural Studies
  • Antonios Tzanakopoulos, Professor of Public International Law

They strongly opposed Kalyvas’ characterisation of the protests:

“With concern, though not surprise, we have been following attempts to portray the protests over the Tempe disaster as part of a plan for ‘political subversion and disorder.’ This coordinated and dangerous attempt to undermine citizens’ constitutionally and internationally protected right to strike and protest is something we strongly oppose.

We believe that, as university scholars, our role is intrinsically linked to the functioning of democracy and civic participation. We stand with those who, in grief and anger, are demanding a thorough investigation, transparency, and justice.“

Professor Dimitris Papanikolaou shared their statement with the following introduction:

“We find ourselves wondering how to respond. But to avoid any misconceptions that we are staying silent, here is a public statement from four colleagues and friends, who today felt the need to speak out: not in our name.”

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