Greek Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrysochoidis has promised the swift arrest of those who attacked students at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens while revealing that the Hellenic Police are investigating other non-governmental organisations following a major charity fraud case.
Chrysochoidis spoke in Thessaloniki during a police presentation on the investigation into Paidiki Chara, a non-governmental organisation alleged to have embezzled nearly 3 million euros from donations and fundraisers for children with serious health problems. Answering questions from journalists, the minister addressed both university violence and inquiries into suspected illegal activity at other charities.
In Greece, the Ministry of Citizen Protection oversees the Hellenic Police and public order operations. Chrysochoidis is a veteran cabinet minister who has headed the portfolio across multiple governments, while Thessaloniki is Greece's second-largest city and the administrative hub of Northern Greece.
Investigation into the Athens university student assembly attack
Asked about the recent clashes at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, known by its Greek acronym EKPA, and who bore responsibility for the scenes of violence, Chrysochoidis made clear that the police do not maintain a permanent presence inside universities. Instead, he said, officers intervene when criminal acts are committed.
Chrysochoidis stated that the police have no business inside universities, adding that authorities have stressed this position for years. He said the police do their job and, when punishable offences take place on university grounds, those acts are investigated under criminal procedure and criminal law to identify suspects and defendants for any unlawful conduct.
Referring specifically to an assault against students two days earlier while they were holding a general assembly, the minister stressed that the perpetrators would be brought to justice. He declared that those who attacked the students during their assembly would obviously be tracked down, arrested, and prosecuted as always happens, adding that no one who engages in such actions goes unpunished.
The minister called on observers to examine the outcomes of previous cases involving similar incidents to understand his point. He added that the authorities would very soon locate those who committed violence that even put students' lives at risk.
Campus security plans and controlled university entry
Founded in 1837, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is the oldest higher education institution in modern Greece. Policing on Greek campuses has long been a sensitive political issue due to historical academic asylum rules established after the fall of Greece's military junta in 1974, which restricted police entry onto university grounds.
Addressing university security, Chrysochoidis pointed out that laws have already been passed and decisions taken that now need to be implemented. He explained that he meant the security plans being advanced by the Ministry of Education, along with all necessary equipment so that access to the university is not open to just anyone.
Chrysochoidis noted that he had answered everything regarding the Hellenic Police on the issue. He emphasised that the Ministry of Education is making a major effort and accelerating procedures so that university access becomes controlled for both students and any visitors.
Hellenic Police monitoring of non-governmental organisations
During the same briefing, the Citizen Protection Minister disclosed that authorities are monitoring the activities of other non-governmental organisations following tips and complaints sent to the relevant services. His remarks were prompted by the presentation of the case involving the Paidiki Chara charity, headed by Konstantinos Firinidis, to which authorities attribute the embezzlement of money collected through charitable fundraisers for sick children.
Responding to a journalist's question, Chrysochoidis clarified that the criminal dimension and any delinquent or illegal activity by non-governmental organisations clearly fall within police jurisdiction, and that officers intervene whenever a suspicion, tip, or complaint arises. He stated that certain organisations are already being monitored following information or complaints that reached police services, though he did not provide further details on the groups or specify the regions where they operate.
However, he made clear that the inquiries are not limited to the Paidiki Chara case, as further operational and financial investigations will follow in the same direction. He declared that the state has a duty to protect both citizens who donate out of their own modest means and the true beneficiaries of aid, aiming to detect and eliminate similar practices and refer those responsible to justice.
The Paidiki Chara charity embezzlement investigation
Referring to the charity case, Chrysochoidis maintained that the months-long, thorough investigation completed by the Sub-Directorate for Combating Organised Crime of Northern Greece had uncovered practices that damage public trust in social solidarity initiatives. According to the investigation's findings, he said, those involved allegedly exploited the operation of a non-governmental organisation and took advantage of public sensitivity toward children facing serious health problems.
While the group promoted fundraising campaigns and collected donations, a significant portion of the money intended to support the beneficiaries never reached the purpose for which it was given. The minister noted that the main individuals involved allegedly embezzled millions of euros, using deceptive practices to bolster the organisation's credibility and attract more donors.
Bank account records and law enforcement warnings
Also participating in the presentation were Major General Fotis Ntouitsis, Director of the Directorate for Combating Organised Crime, and Police Director Aristeidis Mintzas, head of the Sub-Directorate for Combating Organised Crime of Northern Greece. Mintzas reported that the financial investigation centres on 246,000 bank transactions across 29 accounts linked to the main defendant and his 35-year-old wife.
According to the figures presented at the briefing, a total of 5.8 million euros was moved through 92 fundraisers since 2018, when the organisation began operating.
Chrysochoidis stressed that non-governmental organisations form an important part of civil society and perform vital social work that contributes to solidarity and social cohesion, but he warned that this cannot serve as a shield for illegal activities. He stated that no status, institution, or organisational form can operate against the law, adding that any unlawful behaviour is targeted by the competent authorities. Concluding his remarks, he said anti-social behaviour, the exploitation of human compassion, and every form of illegal activity that undermines social trust are met with determination and consistency within the law.
