Prosecutor charges toll hike protesters
An Athens prosecutor on Tuesday afternoon brought criminal charges against nine protesters, including the mayor of the eastern Attica town of Oropos, in connection with a rally on Sunday at the Malakasa toll station on the national highway, northeast of Athens.
Oropos Mayor Yiannis Oikonmakos, four of his deputies, two municipal councilors and two chairmen of local residents’ associations, are facing charges of disturbing the peace and compromising the safety of travelers after a protest rally organized by the municipal authority in response to a hike in toll charges resulted in a toll booth being knocked over and set alight.
Earlier on Tuesday, a prosecutor had ordered all nine to be released from custody pending further investigation into the incident.
Their trial has been set for April 3.
