A months-long hunger strike over the future of a historic refugee housing complex in Athens came to an end Wednesday, af...

A months-long hunger strike over the future of a historic refugee housing complex in Athens came to an end Wednesday, after the community behind the protest announced they were halting the action and would pursue their demands through other means. Aristotle Chatzis and Suzon Doppagne, who had been on hunger strike for 140 days, ended their protest following a resolution passed by the Athens City Council calling for a suspension of the strike and a halt to the redevelopment contract signed with the Attica Region. The announcement was made at a rally in Syntagma Square. Chatzis had been hospitalized at the General State Hospital "Georgios Gennimatas" after his health deteriorated sharply. The dispute centers on the Prosfygika complex on Alexandras Avenue, a row of historic apartment blocks that have been occupied for years by squatters and vulnerable residents. Athens Mayor Haris Doukis brought the resolution to a vote after Chatzis's condition reached a critical point, saying there should be no hunger strike death in Greece in 2026. The council session turned chaotic when opposition leader Kostas Bakoyannis, head of the "Athens High" faction, said the building occupations amount to lawlessness and that negotiations cannot happen under threats and violence. Mayor Doukis fired back sharply, demanding Bakoyannis retract what he called an implication that council members were speaking with killers. Bakoyannis refused, and council members began shouting "shame," with the council president eventually stepping in. The city council's resolution calls on the Attica Region to suspend implementation of the redevelopment agreement and asks the community to suspend the hunger strike. Mayor Doukis also condemned a recent attack on the home of Attica Region Governor Nikos Hardalis, and called on the government, the region, and the community to all step back and open dialogue on a mutually acceptable solution for the complex's future. #Athens #Prosfygika #GreeceNews