Greece’s Minister for Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis, has announced two highly provocative new measures: a ban on public concerts in the Exarchia neighbourhood of Athens, and the creation of a dedicated police unit to tackle crime in Roma communities.

Police crackdown on squats in Exarchia

Speaking to Parapolitika 90.1 FM following a police raid on a squat in Exarchia, Chrysochoidis said the recent emergence of small-scale occupations would no longer be tolerated, as they are considered “hotbeds of lawlessness.” He stressed that police are now acting swiftly to evict such premises and return them to their owners.

He went on to highlight what he described as a “positive transformation” in Exarchia, an area long associated with anarchist activism. “Exarchia has changed. The area is undergoing a remarkable period of progress and development,” he said. “We’re not going to allow that to be derailed. Regardless of who grants permits, such events will no longer be allowed – whether in Exarchia, on Strefi Hill, or anywhere else nearby.”

No more concerts in Exarchia

Addressing the decision to prohibit concerts specifically, he argued that they serve as a pretext for gatherings that too often lead to unrest.

“There’s no reason to have concerts in such a densely populated neighbourhood, particularly when some use these events as a springboard for violence. We can’t have thousands gathering in a place already under pressure, whether it’s to support Gaza or any other cause – they need to find another place to do that.”

When asked directly whether this meant concerts in Exarchia would now be banned, Chrysochoidis confirmed it, citing public safety concerns. He added that a recent outbreak of violence, involving a coordinated attack on police with petrol bombs, had violated the city’s strategic plan for the area.

Hellenic Train bombing

He also addressed Friday night’s bombing outside the offices of Hellenic Train, clarifying that the company is not under official police protection.

“There’s some misunderstanding here. The police aren’t responsible for guarding private businesses. In this case, certain officers went above and beyond out of professional responsibility, but Hellenic Train has its own surveillance systems – cameras, staff, the works. This attack shows that the perpetrators had studied the area. But it’s not the police’s job to stand guard over private enterprises. Our duty is to create a general sense of security and deter criminal acts through our presence and planning.”

New police unit to target Roma communities

Finally, Chrysochoidis announced the formation of a new specialist police unit focused specifically on Roma communities, citing what he claimed were disproportionately high crime rates.

“This can’t go on. These groups are responsible for a huge number of crimes – drug dealing, scams, burglaries, robberies – and it’s the local residents who suffer. We’ve now set up a dedicated unit within the police force to deal exclusively with this issue. It already has a clear structure, leadership, ongoing investigations, and a list of suspects. Our aim is to break up these criminal networks once and for all. That’s my personal promise – first to myself, and also on behalf of the police. But we’ll need everyone’s support to see it through.”

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