Green Councilor and former Member of the European Parliament Michalis Tremopoulos was arrested along with other 13 activists of the Save The Trees initiative during a peaceful sit-in protest in Romaikis Agoras Square, an urban park near the Roman Forum of Thessaloniki. They were trying to block contractors hired by the Municipality of Thessaloniki from cutting down 41 tall trees, as part of a city-wide EUR6m programme to cut down and subsequently replace 4,000 supposedly ailing and dangerous, tall trees in the city. The arrested were set free, apart from 5 who were held for refusing to give fingerprints. All have to appear in court with hyped up charges of violent resistance and threats against police, none of which are seen in the many videos of the incident available. Tremopoulos alleges there are economic interests behind the decision and that most of the trees can be saved.