Athens, Greece, March 25, 2025 — A video of students from the Naval Non-Commissioned Officers’ School (NAA) shouting provocative slogans during the March 25th Greek Independence Day parade in Athens has gone viral, drawing swift condemnation and promises of disciplinary action. The footage, widely shared on social media, captures the students chanting “Cyprus is Greek” followed by expletives directed at Turkey as they marched past spectators.
The incident, which occurred during the annual parade commemorating Greece’s 1821 revolution, has triggered an immediate response from the Greek Navy General Staff. Military sources confirmed that an investigation is underway, with disciplinary measures expected for those involved. The audio in question has since been muted in some online video versions.
Turkey has already reacted through its media, with journalist Ragip Soylu tweeting that such chants are “common in Greek parades,” hinting at a potential diplomatic backlash. The slogans have reignited tensions between the two nations, prompting scrutiny of the event’s oversight.
One X post captured the sentiment with Greek commentary: “ΑΛΤΕ ΗΧΟ!! Παρά πολλά μπράβο! Η Κύπρος είναι ελληνική! Παρά πολλά μπράβο” (“ALTE ECHO!! Many bravos! Cyprus is Greek! Many bravos!”).
Opposition parties in Greece also weighed in. SYRIZA condemned the “unacceptable” and “ahistorical” slogans, linking them to junta-era rhetoric and criticizing the government’s lack of discipline. “National defense isn’t protected by expenditures alone,” the party stated, accusing the administration of weakening its 2030 agenda amid ongoing defense issues.
The New Left echoed the sentiment, calling the “far-right slogans” a regression for Greece. “We’ve paid dearly for brainless nationalism,” their statement read, urging the political and military leadership to take action against those who ordered the outburst, which they say contradicts Greece’s official stance.
As the video continues to circulate, the incident casts a shadow over the parade, raising questions about military conduct and national rhetoric in a year that demands, as the New Left put it, “wiser” responses.