ELAS Headquarters issued a statement regarding reports that police have given permission for today’s Golden Dawn rally to take place in Rigillis Square.

As emphasized in the announcement, public gatherings are a constitutional right and therefore not allowed, and they can only be banned if serious crimes are suspected.

At the same time, it is noted that the decisions of the competent police authorities concern the imposition of restrictions if the assembly is considered to disrupt the socio-economic life of the area.

Finally, ELAS emphasizes that the decision was made to impose restrictions on the collection of the Golden Dawn and “…as a result, the relevant licensing claims are in no way true and untrue.”

“With regard to publications that are reproduced on the Internet and refer to the decision of the Greek police, which allegedly gives permission for the assembly of a certain group of people, the headquarters of the Greek police explains the following:

• in accordance with the Constitution, public gatherings in the open air are a right and therefore are not allowed,

• an upcoming public assembly may be prohibited by a reasoned decision if serious crimes against life, physical integrity, property and public authority are likely to be committed, and

• Decisions issued by local competent police departments concern the imposition of restrictions if there is a possibility that their implementation would disproportionately disrupt the socio-economic life of the area.

In this case, a decision was made to impose restrictions, and therefore the relevant licensing statements are in no way accurate or truthful.”