Greek Police Officer Dismissed for Shooting a Romani Man in 2001

07 February 2004

On November 19, 2003, Greek Police informed the ERRC, in partnership with the Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM), that Officer George Tyllianakis was dismissed from duty following disciplinary proceedings initiated after he fatally shot Mr Marinos Christopoulos, a 21-year-old Romani man, in Zephyri on September 24, 2001 (for further information, please see: Greek Authorities Fail to Adequately Discipline and Prosecute Police Officers for Human Rights Violations against Roma, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Visits Greece and Killing of Romani man by police in Greece).

Both the First and the Second Greek Police Disciplinary Councils, which convened on September 20, 2002 and June 5, 2003, respectively, ruled that Officer Tyllianakis be dismissed from duty. As a result, on June 28, 2003, Greek Police expelled Mr Tyllianakis from its ranks. Mr Tyllianakis is set to appear in court on May 12, 2004 where he will be tried by the Mixed Jury Court of Athens in accordance with Article 299(1) of the Greek Criminal Code for reckless homicide.

(ERRC, GHM)