Vaggelis Giakoumakis' parents issue statement

Rethymno, March 20, 2015

“Despite our heavy grief and suffering from the unfair loss of our beloved Vaggelis, we feel that we are obliged to thank the whole country, and especially citizens of Ioannina, for their generous support in these difficult hours of anguish and sadness for our family.

Vaggelis is no longer our own child. He became a child of all Greece.

The death of Vaggelis and the anguish we feel, should not allow us to ignore our responsibility against any kind of violence, both mental and physical.

We have confidence in the Greek Police and Justice, that both will do what they have to do by condemning the guilty and justifying innocent.

By this difficult position we are right now -which we wish no other family to face- we ask all who respect the memory of Vaggelis to contribute in the condemnation and eradication of all forms of violence that could lead our children to despair and possibly to tragic results.

The silence of Vaggelis that faced all psychological and physical violence during this period, requires us to remain silent, at least for these first days of mourning, and ask you all, especially the media, to respect our desire.

We thank you all,

Andreas & Maria Giakoumakis