The Greek state must pay 450,000 euros to a Cypriot man who was the victim of police brutality in Thessaloniki during a demonstration in 2006 when he was a student there, the Cyprus News Agency reported on Sunday.
Citing Greek newspaper ‘To Ethnos’, CNA said that the Greek Supreme Court had upheld a previous decision that the police were ultimately responsible for the beating of Avgustinos Demetriou during the protest to mark the anniversary in 2006 of the November 17, 1974 student uprising against the Green junta at the Athens Polytechnic.
The court rejected the Greek state’s appeal that Demetriou, then 24, was 90 per cent responsible for his own injuries even though the incident was captured on tape and clearly refuted.
Police said Demetriou was resisting arrest and was hit by a passing motorcyclist, when the video shows him being beaten by police. At the time, the then Greek police chief had spoken of the restraint and composure shown by police that night.
The court also rejected the government’s claim that the amount of compensation was excessive. Demetriou was awarded 300,000 euros plus 150,000 interest for the pain and suffering he endured from the brutal beating.
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