Demonstration Alert - U. S. Embassy Athens and Consulate General Thessaloniki, Greece

Demonstration Alert – U. S. Embassy Athens and Consulate General Thessaloniki, Greece (January 24, 2019)

Location: Expected gathering points in Athens are the U.S. Embassy, Eleftherias Park and Syntagma Square; in Thessaloniki, the White Tower, the Venizelos statue (78 Egnatia Street), and the Arch of Galerius – Kamara with a march to the U.S. Consulate General.

Event: Demonstrations with up to 5,000 or more participants are expected to take place beginning at 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 24, 2019 to protest the upcoming parliamentary vote on the Prespes Agreement, an agreement developed between the two countries to recognize the country to the north of Greece as the Republic of North Macedonia. Road closures and transportation disruptions are expected. Spontaneous/unscheduled demonstrations are also possible.

U.S. government personnel have been advised to avoid the downtown areas of Athens and Thessaloniki after 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 24. Some previous demonstrations turned violent and led to the destruction of property. There is a potential for tear-gas and anti-riot engagement between police and demonstrators.

Actions to Take:

Avoid the area of the demonstration.
Exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests.
Do not cross police lines through demonstrations.
Be aware of your surroundings.
Keep a low profile
Monitor local media for updates.

Assistance: