Greece Held Responsible for Unlawfully Deporting Asylum Seekers
The European Court of Human Rights has determined that Athens infringed upon the rights of migrants by executing forced 'pushbacks' without adequate review. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The European Court of Human Rights has determined that Greece infringed upon the rights of asylum seekers by unlawfully returning them to Turkey without adequately reviewing their claims.
This judgment referred to the actions as “systematic pushbacks,” noting evidence of repeated expulsions from the Evros border area. The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, represents the first official condemnation of Athens for such practices, as reported by various media outlets.
The case was brought forth by a Turkish individual, identified as A.R.E., who alleged that she was forcefully expelled from Greece in 2019 without being afforded the chance to apply for asylum. The court found that her rights under the European Convention on Human Rights had been breached, including her right to seek international protection. The judgment included an award of €20,000 in damages to A.R.E.
In reaching its decision, the ECHR relied on evidence submitted by non-governmental organizations and the UN Refugee Agency, which have consistently voiced concerns regarding Greece’s border management. “There were strong indications to suggest that there had existed, at the time of the events alleged, a systematic practice of ‘pushbacks’ of third-country nationals by the Greek authorities, from the Evros [border] region to Turkey,” the court stated in its ruling. It further noted that such expulsions transpired without appropriate legal procedures or an opportunity for individuals to seek asylum.
Greek authorities have repeatedly rejected claims of pushbacks, asserting that their border enforcement actions comply with international and EU laws. According to media sources, the Greek government has not yet provided a formal reaction to the ECHR’s latest ruling.
The matter of asylum seekers continues to pose a considerable challenge within the European Union. In the first half of 2024, EU nations received around 513,000 asylum applications, suggesting that the annual total could approach one million, similar to levels seen in 2023, as reported by The Times.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
This judgment referred to the actions as “systematic pushbacks,” noting evidence of repeated expulsions from the Evros border area. The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, represents the first official condemnation of Athens for such practices, as reported by various media outlets.
The case was brought forth by a Turkish individual, identified as A.R.E., who alleged that she was forcefully expelled from Greece in 2019 without being afforded the chance to apply for asylum. The court found that her rights under the European Convention on Human Rights had been breached, including her right to seek international protection. The judgment included an award of €20,000 in damages to A.R.E.
In reaching its decision, the ECHR relied on evidence submitted by non-governmental organizations and the UN Refugee Agency, which have consistently voiced concerns regarding Greece’s border management. “There were strong indications to suggest that there had existed, at the time of the events alleged, a systematic practice of ‘pushbacks’ of third-country nationals by the Greek authorities, from the Evros [border] region to Turkey,” the court stated in its ruling. It further noted that such expulsions transpired without appropriate legal procedures or an opportunity for individuals to seek asylum.
Greek authorities have repeatedly rejected claims of pushbacks, asserting that their border enforcement actions comply with international and EU laws. According to media sources, the Greek government has not yet provided a formal reaction to the ECHR’s latest ruling.
The matter of asylum seekers continues to pose a considerable challenge within the European Union. In the first half of 2024, EU nations received around 513,000 asylum applications, suggesting that the annual total could approach one million, similar to levels seen in 2023, as reported by The Times.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
