Thread: The Greek Ombudsman has uploaded today an interim report of his investigation into alleged push backs of third country nationals from Greece to Turkey, including Turkish nationals, in the area of Evros river from summer 2017 until Dec 2020. https://www.synigoros.gr/?i=human-rights.en.recentinterventions.791674

the Omb. cautions that until today concerns allegations have not been effectively addressed through a comprehensive investigation + asks Greek police to develop an "operational plan to effectively address the possibility of private groups or militias engaged in illegal pushbacks"

the Ombudsman also asks the Greek police "to develop a specific and detailed operational plan to effectively address the possibility of private groups or militias engaged in illegal pushbacks of foreign nationals in the area of Evros river."

An important element in the report is the disclosure of numerous, previously unknown interactions, of UNHCR with Greek authorities, in which the @UNrefugee agency appears to have repeatedly submitted to authorities evidence+testimonies of alleged push backs dating back to 2013.

in August 2018, UNHCR forwarded to the Omb. a copy of their letter to the police with 19 testimonies about more than 20 incidents of alleged pushbacks involving a total of approximately 1,500 - 2,000 foreign nationals, in the area of Evros river from October 2017 to June 2018.

"In their letter of 3 April 2019, UNHCR referred to complaints about approximately 40 pushbacks of a total of more than 2,100 persons in 2018. Twelve extensive testimonies by foreign nationals who claimed that they had been victims of pushbacks were attached."

"On 2 September 2020, the UNHCR forwarded to the Ombudsman copy of the letter of 1 September 2020 they had sent to the minister of citizen protection. The UNHCR attached testimonies about 10 alleged pushbacks involving hundreds of foreign nationals, within 2020."

In an Ombudsman. - UNHCR meeting on 20 March 2018, the UNHCR delegation, "noted that from 2013 to 2017, they recorded testimonies regarding 350 incidents" that "involved approximately 11,500 persons."