PLEASE HELP

**UPDATE - 10 DECEMBER 2009**

In the evening of 12 November, the Council of Misdemeanours in Athens issued an order to proceed with the investigation into the attack against Konstantina Kuneva. We have reflected this update with a change in the calls for action and target.

New calls for action:

• demanding that the investigation into the attack on Konstantina Kuneva is impartial, independent and effective, leading to the perpetrators being brought to justice;
• demanding the protection of other human rights defenders and trade union members from similar attacks.

New target:

Director of the First Instance Courts of Athens
(Diefthinonda Protodikeiou Athinon)
Building No. 6
Proin Sholi Evelpidon
Athens 10167
Greece

Konstantina Kuneva, a Bulgarian migrant worker and trade union leader, aged 45, was severely injured in the Greek capital, Athens, on 22 December 2008 after being subjected to a sulphuric acid attack by unknown men, as she returned home from work. She lost her sight in one eye, has limited vision in the other, and her larynx, oesophagus and stomach were seriously damaged.

A history teacher by profession, Konstantina Kuneva moved to Greece in 2001 to earn money for medical treatment for her son. While working as a cleaner, she participated in trade union activities, eventually becoming Secretary of the Attica Union of Cleaners and Domestic Workers. The attack followed a period of rising tension between Konstantina Kuneva and her employer, during which she had received anonymous threats by telephone.

Although the police launched an official investigation into the attack, a number of human rights organizations criticized the focus of the initial stages and the failure to take her trade union activities fully into account.

In May 2009, a petition containing 22,000 signatures was handed to the Deputy Minister of Interior, who committed to ensuring a thorough and impartial investigation to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

In June 2009, the investigative judge assigned to the case decided to end the investigation, even though the perpetrators had not been identified. The case was sent to the Prosecutor’s Office which decides whether to close the case or send it back for further investigation. Konstantina Kuneva’s lawyers have expressed serious concern that the case will be closed. They believe that the investigation was flawed, citing delays by the police authorities in investigating the case, the fact that no investigation was conducted in the area where the attack took place, and that no updated testimony was sought by the investigative judge after the initial one by Konstantina Kuneva.

Meanwhile, Konstantina Kuneva is still in hospital months later and awaits several further operations.

ACT NOW

1. Write to the Greek authorities:

Director of the Prosecutor's Office of the First Instance Courts of Athens
(κύριον Προστάμενο Εισαγγελίας Πρωτοδικών)
Building No. 16
Proin Sholi Evelpidon
Athens 10167
Greece

2. Write a letter of support to Konstantina Kuneva:

We are thinking of you and send you and your family our best regards.

Ние мислим за Вас и изпращаме на Вас и Вашето семейство нашите най-искрени поздрави!
Οι σκέψεις μαςείναι μαζί σας και στέλνουμετις θερμότερες ευχές μας σε εσάς και την οικογένειά σας.

Attika Union of Cleaners
Ergatiko Kendro Athinon
Office No. 320
3rd Septemvriou street 48b
Athens 10433
Greece

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