Investigation by BBC reports new evidence for pushbacks in Evros with the cooperation of so-called mercenaries - No investigation from the Greek authorities – Continued refusal of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy to initiate disciplinary proceedings for the Pylos Shipwreck.
BBC investigation published in April 2026 reports new evidence for illegal pushbacks in Evro. As the British Network reports, “ccording to extensive evidence, revealed by the BBC, police in Greece are hiring migrants to force other migrants violently back to the land border with Turkey”. We have seen internal police documents in which guards describe how the recruitment of so-called mercenaries was ordered and supervised by senior officers. Our findings reveal allegations of violence, with witnesses reporting that migrants have been stripped naked, robbed, beaten, and even sexually abused. It has been claimed that mercenaries have been employed unofficially at the border since at least 2020”.
According to a police source cited by the report, "There is no soldier, police officer, or FRONTEX employee serving here in Evros who is not aware that pushbacks are taking place”.
The Greek Prime Minister stated that he was "completely uninformed" about the specific allegations, while to this day it is not known whether any investigation has been initiated for the competent judicial authorities regarding the above.
Reports of the use of mercenaries, third-country nationals, in the context of pushbacks in the Evros region have been reported multiple times in recent years, including in a report by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) of the Council of Europe (CPT, 2023, par. 155) and the Recording Mechanism of Informal Forced Returns (Annual Report 2024) under the Greek National Commission for Human Rights.
It is also noted that to this day no effective investigation has taken place following complaints of pushbacks by the competent judicial authorities in Greece.
As the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) underlined in the emblematic decision A.R.E. v. Greece, which the Greek Council for Refugees supported in front of the court: "[...] regarding the criminal proceedings [...], the court notes that it is very clear from the file, and from the evidence provided by the Government itself, that all the cases in which the competent Prosecutors had initiated criminal proceedings were dismissed [...] this situation is capable of raising serious doubts as to the effectiveness of the criminal procedure relied on by the Government”.”.
At the same time, the continued refusal of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy to initiate the disciplinary procedure provided by law regarding the Pylos Shipwreck, which caused many deaths, 15 months after the completion of the Ombudsman's ex officio investigation into the acts and omissions of senior and top executives of the Coast Guard underlines in an announcement the Independent Authority. It is recalled that following a lawsuit against the Coast Guard filed by the survivors of the shipwreck before the Piraeus Maritime Court, who are legally represented by civil society organizations, including the GCR, criminal charges have been brought ποινικές διώξεις σε βαθμό κακουργήματος against senior members of the leadership of the Coast Guard, including the commander of the corps at the time of the shipwreck and the commander of the corps at the time of the criminal prosecution. However, no disciplinary proceedings have been initiated.
Systematic status revocations expose more than 1000 refugees from Syria - in just one month - to a state of extreme precariousness, without papers and access to rights.
Following the announcement to the Greek Parliament by the political leadership of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum of the revocation of the already granted asylum status (recognized refugees) in more than 1000 cases by the end of the first half of 2026, the Asylum Service proceeded, between March 1, 2026 and April 9, 2026, to the revocation of 1,203 refugee statuses of Syrian citizens, who had already been recognized as refugees by the Greek authorities.The above development is particularly worrying, considering that the situation in their country of origin remains fragile.
As the UN High Commissioner for Refugees emphasizes, refugees from Syria "“should not be forced to return […] The security situation inside Syria remains unstable in some areas, and challenges continue to exist in a country devastated by 14 years of war”.
In any case, the systematic revocation of asylum status to refugees from Syria by the Asylum Service directly contradicts the official information of the Greek Police in response to a question from the GCR according to which “όwith regard to returns to Syria, we inform you that no forced returns to Syria are taking place at this time" taking into account the situation prevailing in that country and "until the security, rule of law and human rights situation there improve significantly, so as to allow for the safe and dignified return of those who have been determined not to be in need of international protection”.
Therefore, the direct result of the Asylum Service's practice is to leave thousands of refugees from Syria in a prolonged state of limbo, without papers and without access to rights, including legal employment, healthcare, etc.
New Report: At least 110 people in the EU were criminalized for their assistance to migrants in 2025.
A new report, in which the GCR participates, documents a pattern of criminalization of humanitarian action in Europe, including Greece. The actions of these individuals were criminalized because they tried to rescue people in danger at sea or in border areas, because they participated in civil disobedience actions, provided legal assistance or information, or offered food, water and/or shelter to migrants. Most of the individuals located in Greece (50), Poland (20), Italy (19) and France (14).
- Read more - full report here
- Read alsoSolidarity is forbidden in Greece"
Children on the Move Brief– January-March 2026
The new Brief on the situation of the rights children on the move, published in collaboration with the Greek Council for Refugees and Save the Children International, documents the contemporary challenges faced by refugee children and highlights that refugee children who arrive in Greece not only experience dangerous journeys, but are also confronted with systems that often fail to offer them the necessary protection.
Read more
New GCR PODCAST When refugees fall victim to trafficking
In the latest podcast of the Greek Council for Refugees, we discuss about human trafficking, the legal protection of victims, and the entire process from their psychosocial support to the importance of interpreters for appropriate communication between victims and professionals.
Listen to the podcast
