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Death of Konstantinos Katsifas

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The death of Konstantinos Katsifas[1] occurred on October 28, 2018, in the village of Bularat, Albania, near the Greek-Albanian border.

Katsifas, a 35-year-old ethnic Greek from Albania, was fatally shot by Albanian police under controversial circumstances. His death sparked significant tensions[which?] between Greece and Albania, as well as within the Greek minority in Albania.

Konstantinos Katsifas

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Katsifas was born in Bularat, the son of Greek parents. In 1990, when he was seven, his family moved to Athens, where he grew up along with his three sisters.[2] He had served in the Greek army. He was working as a blacksmith, and was also seasonally employed.[3] He was married and had a daughter.[2]

After his death, Greek police sources stated that he had been arrested in the past for cocaine and hashish trade and trafficking on the testimony of an Albanian drug dealer,[4] but was acquitted of the charges.[5]

He was active on social media, posting for the annexation of Northern Epirus to Greece,[6] as well as photographs related to the paramilitary, terrorist, and ultranationalist organisation MAVI ("Northern Epirus Liberation Front").[7][8][9] A few days before his death, he had announced in advance his intention to send a message against the rapprochement between Greece and Albania, with a post on his Facebook account stating that the "hardcore youth of Northern Epirus will not stay inactive", and calling all of the area's Greeks to "send a message on October 28th to all directions. GREECE OR DEATH."[10]

Incident

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On October 28, 2018, Albania was commemorating Ohi Day, a national holiday in Greece that also holds significance for the Greek minority in Albania. On that day, according to his family, Katsifas fired a Kalashnikov rifle into the air near the village of Bularat during a procession, according to the Albanian police and the visible bullet holes in the police cars Katsifas shot in direction of them in the cars.[11][12] Albanian police responded to the incident. Katsifas allegedly opened fire on the Albanian police with an AK-47, prompting the RENEA forces to later intervene.[13][14][15] Katsifas fled to the nearby mountains, where he was eventually located by RENEA.[16]

According to Albanian authorities, Katsifas was killed in an exchange of gunfire after he allegedly refused to surrender and opened fire on the police. There are conflicting reports and allegations that Katsifas may have been executed rather than killed in a firefight. The precise circumstances of his death remain disputed.[17]

Reactions

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Katsifas's funeral in Bularat was attended by thousands, including many who traveled from Greece.[18]

The Greek government called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances of Katsifas's death.[19]

The Greek ex-minister of foreign affairs Theodoros Pangalos condemned Katsifas, saying that he stands against everyone who attack the police forces and everyone who is armed against the police must be shot.[20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Who Was Konstantinos Katsifas; the Greek Killed by Albanian Police in Northern Epirus". GreekReporter.com. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  2. ^ a b "Κωνσταντίνος Κατσίφας: Η ζωή και ο θάνατος ενός Έλληνα στην Αλβανία". Proto Thema (in Greek). 5 November 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  3. ^ Telloglou, Tasos (5 November 2018). "Τα κοιμητήρια και οι «σκελετοί»". Kathimerini (in Greek). Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  4. ^ Lampropoulos, Vasilis (30 October 2018). "Η ζωή και η σύλληψη του 35χρονου ομογενή Κατσίφα και τα όσα γνώριζε για αυτόν η Ελληνική Αστυνομία". To Vima (in Greek). Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Ο θάνατος του Κατσίφα, το ΜΑΒΗ, η Χρυσή Αυγή και το κακό συναπάντημα". Documento News (in Greek). 26 January 2019.
  6. ^ Tziantzi, Afroditi (29 October 2018). "Ενας θάνατος, πολλά ερωτήματα". Efimerida ton Syntakton (in Greek). Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Ο θάνατος του Κατσίφα, το ΜΑΒΗ, η Χρυσή Αυγή και το κακό συναπάντημα". Documento News (in Greek). 26 January 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Το προφίλ του Κατσίφα και η παραστρατιωτική ΜΑΒΗ". The Press Project (in Greek). 29 October 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  9. ^ "Ο Κατσίφας, η σκληροπυρηνική οργάνωση ΜΑΒΗ και ο... Βορίδης (Photos)". Documento News (in Greek). 30 October 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  10. ^ "«Σκληροπυρηνική Νεολαία» και Παΐσιος στο FB του ομογενούς". Ethnos (in Greek). 5 December 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Κωνσταντίνος Κατσίφας: Η ζωή και ο θάνατος ενός Έλληνα στην Αλβανία". ProtoThema (in Greek). 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  12. ^ "Man killed in shootout with police in Albania". AP News. 2018-10-28. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  13. ^ Κοντογιαννίδης, Ρωμανός (28 October 2018). "Αλβανία: Τι οδήγησε στον θάνατο τον 35χρονο ομογενή". Ethnos (in Greek). Retrieved 2021-08-19.
  14. ^ "Κωνσταντίνος Κατσίφας: Η ζωή και ο θάνατος ενός Έλληνα στην Αλβανία". Proto Thema (in Greek). 5 November 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  15. ^ Bego, Fabio (January 2021). "Section 4: Country by Country". In Mulhall, Joe; Khan-Ruf, Safya (eds.). State of Hate: Far-Right Extremism in Europe (PDF) (Report). Hope not Hate, EXPO Foundation and Amadeu Antonio Foundation. p. 61. Retrieved 5 January 2021. These sentiments were exacerbated by the events that followed the killing of an Albanian citizen of Greek nationality, Kostantinos Kacifas in October 2018. Kacifas allegedly attacked Albanian police with a gun for the sake of the Greek irredentist cause in Southern Albania.
  16. ^ "Five years ago – The report of Katsifas' murder: "The Albanian police kills Greek in Northern Epirus! (photos) (Upd.)"". protothema.gr. October 28, 2023. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  17. ^ LAGOS, Ioannis. "Parliamentary question | The case of Konstantinos Katsifas and the situation of the Greek minority in Northern Epirus | P-004661/2021". European Parliament. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  18. ^ MARIAS, Notis. "Parliamentary question | Murder of Greek expatriate Konstantinos Katsifas by the Albanian police and measures to protect the Greek national minority in Northern Epirus | E-005511/2018". European Parliament. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  19. ^ "Greek Minister Seeks Full Clarification of Katsifas Case". ALBANIA DAILY NEWS. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  20. ^ "Ish-ministri i jashtëm grek: Jam kundër faqezinjve që sulmojnë policinë! | JavaNews.al". 2018-11-01. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
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