A waitress working at a bar in the Exarchia district of Athens has suffered partial hearing loss after riot police stormed the area using flashbang grenades and tear gas. Speaking to Jacobin Greece, she described how one of the grenades exploded right next to her right ear, leading to a hospital visit where doctors confirmed she had sustained permanent damage. In response to a related question from journalist Christos Avramidis, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis defended the police’s actions, insisting that the Greek police force now operates in an exemplary manner. He described the incident as potentially isolated and went as far as claiming that it was actually the officers who were under attack.

“I’ve suffered an acoustic trauma in my right ear. I’ve lost part of my hearing,” said the waitress, in her interview with Jacobin Greece. “Doctors compared it to injuries sustained by soldiers or people in war zones, which I find ironic. I’m here just trying to earn a living, serving drinks – not fighting in a war.”

She added that doctors have told her the hearing might return – but there’s no guarantee. “They said it might come back, or it might not. It’s a bit of a gamble.”

Despite the serious incident, Marinakis stood by the police, saying they were under attack and reiterating his position that “the police are doing their job in an exemplary fashion.”

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