Statement regarding the death of a Greek citizen while in police custody in the German city of Wuppertal (12.11.2021)

The competent Greek Missions in Germany, as soon as they were informed about the death of a Greek citizen, while he was in police custody in the German city of Wuppertal, took appropriate steps with regard to the relatives of the deceased, by providing consular assistance, as well as in relation to the competent German authorities.

In particular, the Consul General in Düsseldorf initially went to the city of Hagen, near Wuppertal, and met with the Deputy Police Chief of the city, as this police department has undertaken the investigation of this tragic incident. He also had a meeting with officials of the Public Prosecutor’s Office in the same city.

At the same time, our Ambassador in Berlin sent a letter to the Minister of the Interior of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, requesting continuous and full update of the Greek side on the case.

Afterwards, on 10 November, the Consul General in Düsseldorf also went to the Wuppertal Prosecutor’s Office, where he met with the Attorney General.

During the meeting, he stressed the strong interest that has been demonstrated for the full investigation of the case and the publication of the official report on the circumstances surrounding the death of the deceased as soon as possible.

Yesterday, 11 November, the Consul General in Düsseldorf attended a debate on the issue in the Internal Affairs Committee of the North Rhine-Westphalia State Parliament, before which the Minister of the Interior of that State had been asked to provide clarifications.

Following the discussion, the Consul General met with the Minister of the Interior of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.

In this framework and following the relevant letter of the Ambassador in Berlin, he asked again for the full investigation into the circumstances of the Greek citizen’s death.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the context of the protection of the rights and interests of Greeks abroad, will continue to provide consular assistance to the relatives of the Greek citizen who lost his life in Wuppertal.

The Ministry expects the competent German authorities to thoroughly investigate the case, the course of which it will continue to follow.