Commemorative ceremony Friday in Prague to mourn the 16-year-old Romani boy shot by Greek Police

“We, as Roma from the Czech Republic, are going to light a candle in front of the Greek embassy this Friday, December 16, 2022. We want to express our condolences to the family of the 16-year-old Romani boy,” Cavali said, recalling a similar case from June 2021 in Teplice, Czech Republic when Stanislav Tomáš, a Romani community member, also died after a police intervention.

“At that time, Romani people from all over the world expressed their support for the Czech Roma,” said Cavali. “We will meet at 5 p.m. in front of the Embassy of the Greek Republic in Prague 6.”

“We will be happy if members of the majority society join us,” added Cavali. Mr. Kostas Fragoulis, the 16-year-old Romani boy who was shot by police during a car chase last week, died of his injuries on Tuesday.

According to doctors, Mr. Fragoulis was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head. The police officer fired his weapon while in pursuit after Mr. Fragoulis allegedly drove away from a gas station near Thessaloniki without paying, seriously injuring him.

The young man arrived at the hospital in critical condition and was in the intensive care unit after undergoing an operation. The police shooting sparked protests in Greece by the Romani community, whose representatives are criticizing the state for its racism.

So far, at least one police officer has been arrested and the case is being investigated by the police. After the announcement of the death Tuesday, the protests held in Athens and Thessaloniki were attended by thousands of people, and not just Roma.

More protests were planned for 14 December in Greece as well. The body of the dead young man was taken that morning to Agia Sofia, a Romani settlement, where hundreds of people paid their last respects.