BBC Investigation Reveals Greek Police Using Migrant Mercenaries for Illegal Border Pushbacks
A BBC investigation has uncovered evidence that Greek police have been recruiting migrants, described as mercenaries, to violently force other asylum seekers back across the border with Turkey. Internal documents and witness testimonies indicate this practice, involving brutality such as beatings, robbery, and sexual assault, has been overseen by senior officers since at least 2020. The mercenaries, often from Pakistan, Syria, or Afghanistan, are reportedly rewarded with cash, looted items, and passage papers. A report by the Fundamental Rights Office of Frontex corroborated these allegations, citing an incident in June 2023 where masked men acted under Greek officers' instructions. While Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis claimed total unawareness of these operations, sources within the Evros region suggest widespread knowledge among border officials. These pushbacks violate international and EU human rights laws. The findings highlight systemic abuses at the EU's external border, raising serious questions about accountability and adherence to legal standards regarding migrant treatment and asylum processes in Greece.
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BBC Investigation Reveals Greek Police Using Migrant Mercenaries for Illegal Border Pushbacks
A BBC investigation has uncovered evidence that Greek police have been recruiting migrants, described as mercenaries, to violently force other asylum seekers back across the border with Turkey. Internal documents and witness testimonies indicate this practice, involving brutality such as beatings, robbery, and sexual assault, has been overseen by senior officers since at least 2020. The mercenaries, often from Pakistan, Syria, or Afghanistan, are reportedly rewarded with cash, looted items, and passage papers. A report by the Fundamental Rights Office of Frontex corroborated these allegations, citing an incident in June 2023 where masked men acted under Greek officers' instructions. While Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis claimed total unawareness of these operations, sources within the Evros region suggest widespread knowledge among border officials. These pushbacks violate international and EU human rights laws. The findings highlight systemic abuses at the EU's external border, raising serious questions about accountability and adherence to legal standards regarding migrant treatment and asylum processes in Greece.
BBC News