Athens, May 9, 2019 - The Greek Council for Refugees has received within the last two weeks repeated complaints about push-backs of Turkish citizens in the Evros area. The relatives of the victims will bring these cases before the judicial authorities in order to be investigated.

The Greek Council for Refugees expresses its deep concern regarding these complaints, which come after a series of reports of similar incidents in the previous year, as well as the recommendations of international and national human rights organizations to effectively investigate these complaints[1].

The Greek Council for Refugees calls on the competent judicial authorities to effectively investigate the allegations and calls for respect for the rights of refugees who flee to Greece following persecution from their country of origin.

The above action is implemented with the support of UNHCR (Provision of Legal and Social Assistance to Refugees and Asylum Seekers: GRC01/2019/0000000197/000).

[1] See https://www.gcr.gr/el/ekdoseis-media/ektheseis/reports/item/1028-i-nea-kanonikotita-ston-evro-ameiotes-synexizontai-oi-paranomes-epanaproothiseis-politon-triton-xoron

and https://www.gcr.gr/el/ekdoseis-media/ektheseis/reports/item/790-anafores-gia-systimatikes-epanaproothiseis-ston-evro-apo-eksypiretoymenous-tou-esp

See among others the findings of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture regarding systematic push-backs in its recent report on Greece, Report to the Greek Government on the visit to Greece carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 10 to 19 April 2018, https://rm.coe.int/1680930c9a