A strange case is facing authorities in Kythera after the sudden death of the chairperson of the local community of Karavas, Kosmas Tzortzopoulos, who allegedly ended his life after a serious quarrel with the chairman of the Commission for the Domestic Property of Kythera and Antikythera, Mr. Vangelis Venardo.

According to local media, Mr. Venardos reported that he was attacked by the community’s president, while his wife was also injured in the incident. After the incident, Mr. Tzortzopoulos allegedly headed to the area of Platia Ammos and ended his life.

According to information from protothema.gr, shortly before he made the foolish gesture, he allegedly sent a message to a police officer he knew in which he said “I can’t stand fighting for them (meaning the issues of the island) any longer. You continue our struggles”.

Questions are being raised about the reasons that led the local community chairman to commit suicide with the police investigation now in full swing.

From the information gathered so far by authorities, the following emerges:

The fight between the two men took place on Wednesday (18/12) at about 7.30 pm outside Mr Venardos’ house in the Karava area.

After the incident, Mr Venardos and his wife went to Kythera Hospital for first aid while Tzortzopoulos left the scene and headed in an unknown direction.

Police officers in the area began searches and at around 10.20 pm, Tzortzopoulos allegedly sent a message to the police officer he knew expressing his intention to harm himself. At the same time, the message also stated the location where he was.

Police officers arrived at the scene after seven minutes, at 10.27 pm, where they found the local community chairman lying dead on the pavement. The man suffered a head injury, possibly from a fall of about four metres.

An ambulance station was dispatched to the scene, where it confirmed the man’s death and transported the body to Kythera Hospital. The investigation of the Hellenic Police for the incident is ongoing.

His last post: “Others write, others chase you”

Kosmas Tzortzopoulos, just 24 hours before his death, had made a post on Facebook in which he took issue with criticism of the island. He was referring to a problem with a water leak in the Karavas area.

“For the information of residents: so the water leak outside the toilets in Karavas has been repaired, as for Adelinfm Radiofono Kythera’s trip to Mavrogiorgianika and the photos with the flag, the flag may have been at the mercy of the weather but it is possible that someone had a hand in it because when it is high and waving it is not very appealing…….With this and that we deal with ridiculous things when the island is mired in problems and others write you and others chase you……”, he wrote.

Posts on social media

An administrator in a local Facebook group speaks of shock at the death of Cosmas Tzortzopoulos who “highlighted the area of Karavas and Platia Ammos with his ongoing projects. Despite his efforts, some locals were constantly critical. No need to mention names. We can only hope this development weighs heavily on their conscience.”

Another, a friend of the deputy mayor, said in an emotional post: “There are some separations that are incongruous! Always with a smile and kindness, I remember you by our side at most of our appearances in Kythera! Modest giving and gentlemanly! Have a good trip my friend Kosmas Tzortzopoulos and we can’t forget you because you were charismatic and rare!”