Turkophobic slogans in Greek army: Türkiye demands explanation as soldiers face investigation
Greek soldiers are seen during a military parade in Athens, Greece on March 25. (Source: Greek media)
Türkiye formally requested an explanation from Greece on Tuesday regarding slogans shouted by some Greek army personnel during a military parade in Athens, describing them as “impertinent.”
According to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources familiar with the matter, the incident was deemed an unacceptable attempt to undermine Turkish-Greek relations.
Greek media reported that the Greek Defense Ministry responded promptly, with the Naval Forces Command launching a disciplinary investigation into the incident, in which some members of the Greek Armed Forces insulted Türkiye and Turkish Cypriots, according to widely circulated footage.
Greece’s main opposition party, the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA), also denounced the slogans as being unacceptable and called for a thorough investigation into the matter.
What happened: Insults toward Turks and Northern Cyprus
A military parade held on March 25 in Athens to commemorate Greece’s National Day has sparked controversy after participants were heard chanting slogans deemed offensive to Türkiye.
Eyewitnesses reported that some parade participants chanted slogans such as “Cyprus is Greek,” accompanied by other offensive remarks targeting Türkiye.
The parade, which is traditionally a celebration of Greek independence and national pride, has now become a focal point for diplomatic concerns.
Meanwhile, a comment under a social media post featuring the parade video expressed strong criticism of the participants, stating: “If some honorable prosecutor came out, he would gather you to the military court from the lieutenant commander to the chief of general staff.”
