Tensions between the City of Athens and the Ministry of National Defense have escalated after Athens Mayor Haris Doukas filed a lawsuit challenging the government’s decision to assign cleaning duties at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to a private company.

“The government confirmed that under the new amendment, responsibility for the monument’s cleaning belongs to the Defense Ministry and will be given to private contractors,” Doukas said. “The City of Athens will appeal to the courts based on Article 102 of the Constitution.”

By invoking Article 102, Doukas is questioning not only the political decision but also the constitutionality of the act, which he argues undermines local authority. The dispute, he said, is not simply about “who cleans the space,” but about who has the right to decide—the state or local government.

In response, the Defense Ministry stated that it “will not allow any form of degradation of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier” and that it “will take all necessary actions to protect and preserve the monument.” The ministry added that it would not engage further in the public debate.

The confrontation comes after meetings between Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, Athens Mayor Haris Doukas, and Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis aimed at ensuring a smooth transfer of responsibilities and proper care of the site.

However, shortly after those talks, Doukas struck a different tone. In a social media post, he wrote: “From today, the responsibility for the care of the monument and its surroundings belongs entirely to the government. Good luck to them.”

The Defense Ministry later clarified that it will assign the cleaning of the site “to a third party for as long as necessary,” insisting it cannot “allow the degradation of a space of memory and honor.”

Doukas responded once again, saying the government had shown inconsistency: “Yesterday, the government assigned care of the monument to the Defense Ministry, and today that same ministry cites the Constitution to shift responsibility back to the municipality. Unfortunately, the required respect for the monument is still being sought.”