GREEK lawyers have appealed for international support and solidarity after a case was filed against Thanasis Kampagiannis and Costas Papadakis for “violating the extraordinary measures banning public gatherings.”

The pair were among some 100 people arrested in the Greek capital Athens for allegedly attending a memorial held to mark the 12^th anniversary of the murder of Alexis Grigoropoulos by police.

Authorities banned the ceremony citing coronavirus restrictions.

They were held along with health workers, trade unionists and others in police headquarters in cramped conditions with a lack of ventilation, with no protective Covid-19 measures in place.

“80 people [were] held in a single holding cell along with police officers searching their bags and other items with the same gloves, thus breaking lockdown measures designed to protect public health,” the lawyers said after their release.

Mr Kampagiannis and Mr Papadakis have filed a complaint calling for disciplinary charges against police officials for for violating Article 34 of the Bar Code – obstruction to exercise their duties- as well as for violation of Article 285 of the Penal Code – protection measures against Covid-19 – during their detention.

It is believed the lawyers are being targeted in a show of authoritarianism because of their role in the civil suit against the fascist Golden Dawn party.

The case led to the party being defined as a criminal organisation responsible for murder, assault and weapons possession with its leading officials and parliamentarians jailed.

The lawyers said they attended Sunday’s memorial in an “institutional capacity.”

The Athens Bar Association warned of an “unprecedented action by the police authorities that prevented the lawyers carrying out their duties, violates the essence of the legal function and seriously affects the core of the rule of law.”