Greek Border Police 'Had to' Gas Bulgarian Hooligans - Embassy

Greek border police had to use force against Bulgarian volleyball fans in an incident earlier this week, said the Greek embassy in Sofia in a statement over the matter.

Thursday the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a protest, after Wednesday evening Greek security forces clashed with supporters of Bulgarian CSKA volleyball team, who had travelled to Thessaloniki to see a game with local Iraklis.

According to the Greek embassy's statement, Iraklis had not allowed Bulgarian fans to be present in its facility for the game, which resulted in two of the three CSKA fan buses not being allowed entry into Thessaloniki.

In its letter, the Bulgarian Foreign Affairs Ministry had objected to the obstruction that Greece had made to the Bulgarian citizens' freedom of movement.

According to the statement of the Greek embassy, which had consulted with Greek border police, CSKA fans attacked Greek border security guards upon arriving at the Promachonas checkpoint.

"During passport check, some of the Bulgarian fans got off the buses and started throwing stones, smoke bombs and other objects at Greek border police officers," reads the embassy's statement.

The Greek position explains that in that turn of events "the use of teargas was absolutely necessary" to restore order and the movement of vehicles through the Promachonas-Kulata checkpoint.

The Greek embassy further reports that the police unit in Promachonas is carrying out investigations of the incident and has already filed charges of assault, damaging of property and violations of the legislation on use of pyrotechnic devices.

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