In brief
According to extensive investigations reported by the BBC, Greek police have allegedly orchestrated the recruitment of migrants to act as mercenaries, forcibly pushing back fellow migrants to Turkey. This operation has reportedly involved violence, theft, and sexual abuse, raising significant human rights concerns. The Greek government has denied knowledge of these activities amid growing international scrutiny.
Recent reports by the BBC have uncovered troubling evidence that the Greek police have been recruiting migrants to forcibly push back other migrants across the Turkish border. Internal documents sourced reveal that senior officers orchestrated this recruitment of masked so-called mercenaries. Witness accounts have highlighted allegations of brutality, including migrants being stripped, robbed, beaten, and sexually assaulted.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated he was totally unaware of these allegations, while authorities have not responded to detailed requests for comment from the media. Pushbacks that deny migrants and asylum seekers their rights to due process are widely regarded as illegal under international law.
Reports of such practices by Greek police were initially brought to light by the news organization Lighthouse Reports in 2022, corroborated by further investigations carried out this year in collaboration with the Consolidated Rescue Group (CRG).
Eyewitness accounts describe instances where mercenaries have perpetrated severe violence against migrants, with one border guard testifying about sexual assaults on female migrants. The testimonies gathered include brutal violence from mercenaries and police officers alike, with described incidents showcasing extreme physical abuse.
The Evros region, marking the land border between Greece and Turkey, has seen a significant rise in migrant arrivals since 2015, predominantly through perilous sea routes. The Greek borders are heavily militarized and restricted, leading to grave allegations of human rights abuses.
Evidently, mercenaries—some of whom are migrants themselves—are coerced into this violent enforcement against their fellow migrants, often receiving cash or communication devices as rewards, along with the unofficial status enhancing their mobility within Greece.
As investigations unfold, these allegations call into question the role of European border management agencies like Frontex, which have denied complicity in or awareness of such abuses, insisting their operations are grounded in lawful border management efforts.
