Greek rally voices support for Bulgarian union official attacked with acid
Greek riot police used teargas to disperse protesters in Athens on February 19 2009, who voiced their support for Bulgarian Kostadinka Kouneva, a secretary of a union of cleaners and domestic servants, Bulgarian private broadcaster bTV said.
On December 25 2008 she was brought out of a medically induced coma in which she had been kept for several days at the intensive care unit of Athens' Evangelismos Hospital. Ever since, she has been in critical condition, losing one of her eyes.
This was the second protest rally in support of Kouneva in less than three weeks. She was attacked on December 23 by two assailants, who splashed sulphuric acid in her face. The attack was allegedly a response to her union activities.
The protest on February 19 2009 turned violent after a part of the 1200 protesters started throwing rocks at the police and tried to set an ATM on fire. A similar protest was held in Thessaloniki.
Besides their support for Kouneva, protesters demanded police to find the perpetrators of the attack on Kouneva.
On December 25 2008 she was brought out of a medically induced coma in which she had been kept for several days at the intensive care unit of Athens' Evangelismos Hospital. Ever since, she has been in critical condition, losing one of her eyes.
This was the second protest rally in support of Kouneva in less than three weeks. She was attacked on December 23 by two assailants, who splashed sulphuric acid in her face. The attack was allegedly a response to her union activities.
The protest on February 19 2009 turned violent after a part of the 1200 protesters started throwing rocks at the police and tried to set an ATM on fire. A similar protest was held in Thessaloniki.
Besides their support for Kouneva, protesters demanded police to find the perpetrators of the attack on Kouneva.