A new investigation has raised serious allegations about the treatment of migrants at the Greece–Turkey border, claiming that authorities recruited foreign nationals to help carry out illegal pushbacks—claims strongly denied by Greek officials.
Claims from investigation
According to reporting by BBC, internal documents and testimonies suggest that, since 2020, individuals described as “third-country nationals” were allegedly recruited to assist in preventing migrants from entering Greece via the Evros land border.
The report includes allegations that:
- Migrants were forcibly returned to Turkey without due legal process
- Individuals acting at the border used violence, intimidation and theft
- Some testimonies include claims of severe abuse, including sexual violence
Witnesses cited in the investigation described incidents involving beatings, strip searches, and confiscation of personal belongings.
Frontex-linked findings
A separate report by the Fundamental Rights Office of Frontex also referenced an incident in which a group of “third-country nationals” were allegedly acting under the instruction of Greek officers.
The report cited claims of:
- Physical and verbal abuse
- Threats, including references to rape and death
- Forced returns across the border
Such practices, if confirmed, would violate international and European human rights law.
Testimonies and legal action
The investigation includes accounts from migrants who claim they experienced or witnessed violent treatment before being pushed back across the border.
A legal case has reportedly been filed at the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of an Afghan woman alleging sexual assault prior to a forced return in 2023.
Other testimonies describe migrants being transported in overcrowded vehicles and later forced onto boats or into the Evros River.
Greek government response
Greek authorities have firmly rejected the allegations.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told the BBC he was “totally unaware” of claims that migrants were being used in such operations.
Officials have also disputed specific incidents referenced in the reports, maintaining that Greece operates within the framework of international law.
Wider migration context
Located on the EU’s southeastern frontier, Greece has long been a major entry point for migrants and asylum seekers from the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
In recent years, the country has intensified border controls—particularly in the eastern Aegean and along the Evros frontier—amid broader European efforts to curb irregular migration.
At the same time, European governments, including Greece, are exploring new measures such as offshore return hubs for rejected asylum seekers.
Ongoing scrutiny
The allegations add to ongoing international scrutiny of migration practices at Europe’s external borders.
While investigations continue, the claims—if substantiated—could have serious legal and political implications for Greece and the European Union’s border management policies.