GCR’s Information Note

on interventions and on interim measures granted by the ECtHR in cases regarding pushbacks

Updated on the 18th of February 2025

          Since March 2022 the Greek Council for Refugees (GCR) has represented 779 Syrian, 156 Turkish, 109 Iraqi, 57 Palestinian, 36 Afghan, 3 Egyptian, 2 stateless (bidoon) and one Somali refugees, including many children, before the European Court of Human Rights, by filing 100 applications for interim measures (Rule 39), requesting to be granted humanitarian assistance and access to the asylum procedure.

The Court granted the requested interim measures for all cases and ordered the Greek government not to remove the refugees from the country’s territory and, in the majority of the cases, to provide them with food, water and proper medical care. The ECtHR also requested to be informed by the Greek government, amongst others, on whether the refugees have submitted an asylum application and whether they have access to the asylum procedure and to legal assistance.

In 58 out of the 100 groups/cases the refugees complain they have been pushed back to Turkey; in 33 out of these 100 groups/cases the refugees went missing after the Court’s decision and GCR is not aware of their whereabouts; and in 24 of these groups/cases the refugees (or a number of refugees from the same case) have been formally arrested by the Greek authorities. It should be noted that the refugees, even from the groups that were formally arrested, complain that in the past they had been subjected to violent and informal return (pushback) to Turkey from Greece.

Furthermore, both with respect to those stranded on the islets and those in the Greek mainland, the refugees who complain that they have been pushed back to Turkey, also complain that, they were informally arrested by the Greek authorities, treated with violence, and in the majority of cases were informally detained in an unspecified detention facility in the Evros region and in other cases they were immediately transferred upon arrest to the river bank and then forcibly put in boats and pushed back to Turkey.

In particular:

1. Application no. 13624/22, A.A. and others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 16/3/2022.

30 Syrian refugees including children. One child fell in the river and allegedly drowned during pushback operation. Applicants were formally arrested and registered after being stranded for several days on an islet in river Evros. Joint representation with the organization Human Rights 360 -a full application has been submitted before the Court. 

2. Application no. 18341/22, B.M. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 13/4/2022.

 27 Syrian refugees including 5 children were formally arrested and registered. 

3. Application no. 18940/22, A.D. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 19/4/2022.

37 Syrian refugees including 17 children complain that they were pushed back from Greece to Turkey, while the Court’s decision was pending. Some of them entered Greece again three more times and they were stranded again on an islet in the Evros river. In particular: In two times they were pulled back by Turkish border guards together with two other groups of Syrians (see below S.S. and F.R. cases) and the third time, while being stranded on an islet for 10 days (15/6 -26/6/2022), together with some of the refugees of the S.S. and F.R. groups and also a new group of Syrians (see below M.A. case) they were pushed back to Turkey again.

4. Application no. 18941/22, The.Α. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 19/4/2022.

46 Syrian refugees including 10 children were formally arrested and registered. 

5. Application no. 19419/22, K.M.I. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 21/4/2022.

39 Syrian refugees including 9 children complain that they were pushed back from Greece to Turkey twice. The second pushback took place after the Court’s decision. A woman in need of haemodialysis allegedly died on the islet. Some of them entered Greece again and were formally arrested and registered. A full application has been submitted by GCR before the Court. 

6. Application no. 21039/22, S.S. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 29/4/2022.

12 Syrian refugees including 3 children complain that they were pulled back from an islet in the Evros river by Turkish border guards. Some of them entered Greece again together with some of the Applicants of the A.D. and F.R groups as well as together with 18 other Syrian refugees (see below F.R. and M.A. cases). All of them complain that while they were stranded on an islet in the Evros river for 10 days (15/6 -26/6/2022) they were pushed back to Turkey. 

7. Application no. 21131/22, A.A. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 4/5/2022.

14 Syrian refugees complain that they were pushed back from Greece to Turkey. Some of the applicants entered Greece again and were formally arrested and registered. A full application has been submitted by GCR before the Court.  

8. Application no. 23128/22, F.R. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 11/5/2022

39 Syrian refugees including 13 children complain that they were pulled back from an islet in the Evros river by Turkish border guards. Some of them entered Greece again together with some of the Applicants of the A.D. and S.S. groups as well as together with other Syrian refugees (see below M.A. case). All of them complain that while they were stranded on an islet in the Evros river for 10 days (15/6 -26/6/2022) they were pushed back to Turkey.  

9. Application no. 25806/22 – H.M. and Others v. Greece and 15 other applications, Interim measures granted on 25/5/2022.

93 Syrian refugees, stranded on an islet in the Evros river, complain that they were pushed-back from Greece to Turkey after the Court’s decision. 27 of them entered Greece again and found themselves stranded on another islet, together with the applicants from the case H.M. (see below). They complain that they were pushed back to Turkey for the second time.  Joint representation with the organization Human Rights 360. 

10. Application regarding five Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 27/5/2022.

Applicants complain that they were pushed-back from Greece to Turkey, while the Court’s decision was pending. Joint representation with the organization Refugee Support Aegean. A full application has been submitted by GCR and RSA before the Court.

11. Application regarding seven Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 27/5/2022 

Applicants complain that they were pushed-back from Greece to Turkey while the Court’s decision was pending. 

12. Application no. 26558/22, H. M. v. Greece and 6 other applications, Interim measures granted on 1/6/2022.

Some of the 93 applicants in Application no. 25806/22 (see above) entered Greece again together with the 28 applicants in the current case.  Applicants complain that they were pushed-back from Greece to Turkey after the Court’s decision. Joint representation with the organization Human Rights 360. 

13. Application no. 29655/22 – M.A. and Others v. Greece and 13 other cases, Interim measures granted on 17/6/2022.

18 Syrian refugees including 7 children were stranded on an islet in the Evros river for 10 days (15/6-26/6/2022) together with applicants of cases A.D., S.S. and F.R. v. Greece. Applicants complain that they were pushed-back from Greece to Turkey after the Court’s decision.

14. Application regarding five Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 5/7/2022

Applicants complain that they were pushed-back from Greece to Turkey while the Court’s decision was pending. A full application has been submitted by GCR before the Court.

15. Application regarding eleven Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 8/7/2022

Applicants complain that they were pushed-back from Greece to Turkey while the Court’s decision was pending.

16. Application no. 35090/22 -K.A. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 20/7/2022

50 Syrian refugees, stranded on an islet in the Evros river, complain that they were pushed-back from Greece to Turkey after the Court’s decision. Most of them entered Greece again and found themselves stranded on the same islet. They complain that a young girl died on the islet from insect bites. They moved to the mainland and then were formally arrested and registered. The request for the interim measures were submitted by GCR and Human Rights 360. The full application before the Court has been submitted by GCR.

17. Application no. 35490/22 – M.J. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 22/7/2022.

6 persons out of which 5 Syrian nationals (including 1 asylum seeker in Greece) and 1 stateless minor from Kuwait, recognized refugee in Greece, being stranded on an islet in the Evros river for over a month along with 2 Applicants of other cases (S.S. v. Greece case – Application no. 21039/22 and N.A. v. Greece case – Application no. 29680/22).  

18. Application regarding four Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 4/8/2022

The applicants were formally arrested and registered.

19. Application no. 38444/22 – B.S. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 9/8/2022.

5 Syrian refugees, stranded on an islet in the Evros river, along with applicants from the K.A. v. Greece case.  They moved to the mainland and then were formally arrested and registered. The request for the interim measures were submitted by GCR and Human Rights 360.  The full application before the Court has been submitted by GCR.

20. Application regarding six Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 22/9/2022.

The applicants were formally arrested and registered while the interim measures request was pending.

21. Application no. 49474/22 A.Z. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 21/10/2022.

7 Syrian refugees, including 3 children, were formally arrested and registered in Evros region following the Court’s decision.

22. Application no. 9906/23, M.D. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 3/3/2023

17 Syrian refugees complain that they were pushed-back multiple times from Greece to Turkey in Evros region. According to our information the applicants were pushed-back from Greece to Turkey after the Court’s decision as well. The full application before the Court has been submitted by GCR.

10 of them entered Greece again later in March but, according to our information, they were pushed-back to Turkey again. (See below Applications nos.: 13532/23 M.D. and Others v. Greece, 13533/23 H.R. and Others v. Greece, 13534/23 M.D. and S.D. v. Greece granted on 30/3/2023) 

23. Application regarding one Turkish refugee, Interim measures granted on 29/3/2023 

The applicant went missing while the decision of the Court was pending. 

24. Applications nos.: 13532/23 M.D. and Others v. Greece, 13533/23 H.R. and Others v. Greece, 13534/23 M.D. and S.D. v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 30/3/2023 

10 of the applicants of the case M.D. and Others v. Greece (Application no. 9906/23) complain that they were pushed-back once more from Greece to Turkey after a new entrance in Greece and a new Court’s decision. 

25. Applications regarding four Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted 28/4/2023.

The 4 Turkish applicants, up to now, went missing and there is no information available about their whereabouts.

26. Application no. 24691/23 – S.J.A. and Others, B.H, M.A and A.A. v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 20/6/2023

6 Afghans applicants (two families) complain that they were pushed-back from Greece to Turkey. One of these families (a father and his son), according to our information was deported from Turkey to Afghanistan. The full applications before the Court, regarding one family, have been submitted by GCR.

27. Application no. 24701/23 Z. S. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 20/6/2023

36 Syrian, Iraqi, Turkish and Palestinian applicants, among them three reported as missing/drowned. The same group of people were allegedly pushed back several times to Turkey.

28. Application no. 27303/23 H.A. v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 12/7/2023

The applicant, a Syrian recognized refugee in Greece, alleges that in October 2022, while being in the city of Thessaloniki, he was informally arrested by the Greek police, transferred to Evros river and was illegally and forcibly deported to Turkey. Ever since, according to his allegations, he has tried to re-enter Greece several times through the Evros river but every time he was being pushed back to Turkey.  The applicant soon after his latest pushback in July 2023, he was abandoned on an islet in Evros River and then swam back to Turkey, after the Court’s decision.

29. Application regarding one Turkish refugee, Interim measures granted on 16/8/2023

The Turkish applicant went missing while the decision of the Court was pending. The applicant’s last known location was in the city center of Orestiada, in front of the central bus station. The full application before the Court has been submitted by GCR.

 

30. Application no. 32629/23 – A.H. v. Greece and 8 other applications, Interim measures granted on 28/8/2023

9 Afghan applicants (including 5 unaccompanied minors, one only 9 years old) were remaining in a forest area near the wildfires in Evros region for five days. They went missing while the decision of the Court was pending and up to now GCR has no news or indications about the circumstances under which they disappeared.

 

31. Application no. 33059/23 M.A.D. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 1/9/2023

27 Applicants (19 Syrians and 8 Iraqis, including 12 minor children) were remaining in a forest area in Evros region for six days. While the decision of the Court was pending, the Applicants, allegedly, were violently pushed back to Turkey during the night.   The full application before the Court has been submitted by GCR.

 

32. Application no. 34363/23 I.R.A.H. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 14/9/2023

49 Applicants (41 Syrians and 8 Iraqis, including 18 minor children) were remaining on an islet in Evros region for a week. After the granted interim measure by ECHR, 48 out of the 49 Applicants were formally arrested and registered. Some of the Applicants allegedly had been informally arrested and pushed back to Turkey by the Greek authorities in the past. 

33. Application regarding two Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 13/11/2023

The two Turkish Applicants went missing while the decision of the Court was pending. The applicant’s last known location was in the city center of Orestiada, in front of a police building, from where they had sent to GCR a photo. The Applicants after their alleged pushback re-entered in Greece and were officially arrested by Greek Authorities.

 

34. Application regarding two Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 21/11/2023

The Applicants complain that they were pushed-back from Greece to Turkey on the same day of the Court’s decision. Both Applicants after their alleged pushback were arrested in Turkey and one of them remains in detention with criminal charges connected to his political persecution.

 

35. Application regarding one Turkish refugee, Interim measures granted on 22/11/2023

The Applicant complains that he was pushed-back from Greece to Turkey on the same day of the Court’s decision. The Applicant after his alleged pushback was imprisoned in Turkey due to his political persecution. The full application before the Court has been submitted by GCR.

36. Application regarding two Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 24/11/2023

The Applicants complain that they were pushed-back from Greece to Turkey on the same day of the Court’s decision. The Applicants are imprisoned in Turkey because of their political persecution.

37. Application regarding one Turkish refugee, Interim measures granted on 29/11/2023

The Applicant complains that he was pushed-back from Greece to Turkey on the same day of the Court’s decision. The Applicant after his alleged pushback re-entered in Greece and was officially arrested by Greek Authorities.

38. Application regarding one Turkish and one Iraqi refugee, Interim measures granted on 1^st/12/2023

The Applicants complain that they were pushed-back from Greece to Turkey on the same day of the Court’s decision. Both Applicants were arrested by the Turkish authorities after their alleged pushback and one remains in house arrest because of his political persecution in Turkey. Joint representation with the organization Refugee Support Aegean.

39. Application regarding two Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 18/12/2023

The applicants were formally arrested and registered after the decision on interim measures.

40. Application regarding two Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 9/1/2024

The applicants were formally arrested and registered after the decision on interim measures.

41. Application regarding ten Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 10/1/2024

The Applicants complain that they were pushed back from Greece to Turkey on the same day of the Court’s decision. A number of Applicants re-entered in Greece a few days after their alleged push-back and were officially arrested by Greek Authorities.

42. Application no. 969/24 F.A. and Others v. Greece Interim measures granted on 11/1/2024

28 Syrians, Palestinians and Turkish Applicants complain that, after the adoption of the decision on interim measures, they were unofficially arrested from the islet in Evros river, detained in the Greek mainland and then pushed back to Turkey. A number of Syrian Applicants complain that after their pushback they were returned from Turkey to Syria. 7 of the Applicants re-entered in Greece. The full application before the Court has been submitted by GCR.

43. Application no. 2411/24 J.W. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 24/1/2024

8 Palestinian Applicants, together with 7 Applicants of the Application no. 969/24 F.A and Others v. Greece, were remaining stranded on an islet in Evros river for three days.

44. Application regarding two Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 21/2/2024

The 2 Turkish applicants were formally arrested and registered in Evros region following the Court’s decision.

45. Application no. 7560/24 B.M. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 15/3/2024

5 Syrian Applicants (family), who were formally arrested and registered in Evros region following the Court’s decision.

46. Application no. 7521/24 A.M.A.H. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 15/3/2024

16 asylum seekers from Palestine, Iraq and Turkey arrived on the Greek shore on 14.3.2024 and went missing after the adoption of the decision. GCR up till now is not aware about the whereabouts of the Applicants.

47. Application regarding two Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 19/3/2024

The 2 Turkish applicants were formally arrested and registered in Evros region following the Court’s decision.

48. Application regarding one Turkish refugee, Interim measures granted on 19/3/2024

The Applicant complains that he was pushed-back from Greece to Turkey on the same day of the Court’s decision.

49. Application no. 9115/24 R.A.F. and Others v. Greece, regarding 15 Syrian and Palestinian refugees, Interim measures granted on 2/4/2024 (Application lodged on 1.4.2024)

15 Syrian and Palestine refugees were remaining on an islet, after their pushback from Greece to Turkey from another Greek islet. The Applicants were formally arrested and registered following the Court’s decision and after their movement to the Greek bank of the river Evros.

50. Application regarding one Turkish refugee, Interim measures granted on 15/4/2024

The Turkish applicant was formally arrested and registered in Evros region following the Court’s decision.

51. Application regarding one Turkish refugee, Interim measures granted on 17/4/2024

The Turkish Applicant went missing while the decision of the Court was pending. The applicant’s last known location was 5 kilometers away from the Border Police Station in Soufli. There is no information available about his whereabouts.

52. Application no. 11521/24 S.H. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 19/4/2024

5 asylum seekers from Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia (2 Syrians, 2 Afghans and one Somali), arrived in Soufli and went missing after the adoption of the decision. One of the Applicants was an unaccompanied minor. One of the Applicants re-entered in Greece and was officially arrested by Greek Authorities. GCR up till now is not aware about the whereabouts of the rest 4 Applicants.

53. Application no. 11663/24 A.E. and Others v. Greece, Interim measure granted on 22/4/2024

10 Applicants (6 Iraqis and 4 Syrians) complain that they were pushed-back from Greece to Turkey while the Court’s decision was pending. Four Applicants, after their new entrance in Greece, were formally arrested and registered. The rest six Applicants went missing and GCR is not aware of their current whereabouts.

54. Applications regarding two Turkish refugees, interim measures granted on 23/4/2024.

The 2 Turkish applicants, up to now, went missing and there is no information available about their whereabouts. They entered in Greece at the same date of the Court’s decision and went missing in an area near “Dilofos”, together with 14 more asylum seekers, whose personal data are not available to GCR.

55. Application no. 12008/24 Y.S.H. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 25/4/2024

The family of 7 Syrian Applicants complain that they were pushed-back from Greece to Turkey on the same day of the Court’s decision.

56. Application no. 12182/24 M.M.S.S. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 26/4/2024

5 Applicants (4 Iraqis, 1 Syrian) went missing while the decision of the Court was pending. The applicants’ last known location was in an area near Nea Vyssa.

57. Application no. 12197/24 R.H.S. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 26/4/2024

8 Applicants (7 Iraqis, 1 Syrian) went missing while the decision of the Court was pending. The applicants’ last known location was in an area near Soufli.

58. Application regarding one Turkish refugee, Interim measures granted on 29/4/2024

The Turkish applicant was formally arrested and registered in Evros region following the Court’s decision.

59. Application no. 12426/24 A. I. and Others v. Greece Interim measures granted on 30/4/2024

16 asylum seekers from Iraq (11) and Afghanistan (5) arrived on the Greek shore of Evros river on 28.4.2024 and a number of Applicants complain that on 30.4.2024 they were pushed-back from Greece to Turkey while the adoption of the decision was pending.

60. Application regarding two Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 2/5/2024 (Application lodged on 1.5.2024)

Two Turkish asylum seekers arrived in Tychero on 1.5.2024. The decision was adopted on 2.5.2024. The Applicants went missing. One Applicant, after the first refoulement re-entered in Greece and re-submitted the following application for interim measures.

61. Application regarding 10 Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 14/5/2024

The 10 Turkish complain (6 adults and 4 children) that they were pushed back from Greece to Turkey. The six adult Applicants, according to information provided to GCR, were imprisoned in Turkey due to their political persecution.

62. Application regarding 31 Syrian refugees, Interim measures granted on 21/5/2024

The Applicants complain that they were pushed-back from Greece to Turkey. Eight out of 31 Applicants re-entered Greece after their pushback and were officially registered. According to information that GCR received from one of the eight applicants, 22 of the 23 applicants were detained in Türkiye and 1 was returned from Turkey to Syria. Up to date, we have no contact with the 23 Applicants

63. Application no. 15843/24 H.S.N. and Others v. Greece Interim measures granted on 6/6/2024 (Application lodged on 6.6.2024)

17 Syrians and Palestinians complain that they have been pushed back several times from Greece to Turkey. Three Applicants, after their new entrance in Greece, were formally arrested and registered. The rest 14 Applicants went missing and GCR is not aware of their current whereabouts.

 

64. Application regarding two Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 13/6/2024

The 2 Turkish applicants went missing in Tychero on 13.6.2024 and GCR is not aware of their current whereabouts.

65. Application regarding 1 Turkish, 2 Egyptians and 8 Syrian refugees, Interim measures granted on 13/6/2024

The 11 Applicants went missing while the adoption of the decision was pending. GCR is not aware of the current whereabouts of the Applicants.

66. Application no. 16685/24 M. and Others v. Greece regarding 6 Syrian refugees, Interim measures granted on 13/6/2024

The family of 6 Syrian Applicants complain that they were pushed-back from Greece to Turkey while the Court’s decision was pending.

67. Application regarding three Turkish, two Syrians and one Iraqi refugees, Interim measures granted on 2/7/2024

Three Turkish, two Syrians and one Iraqi were allegedly pushed back from Greece/Marasia to Turkey at the date of the decision. After the refoulement, according to information received by the GCR, one Turkish applicant was imprisoned in Turkey due to his political persecution and another one is under house arrest with her minor son. The Submission of the Full Application before the Court is pending.

68. Application regarding two Turkish and six Iraqi refugees, Interim measures granted on 2/7/2024

Two Turkish and 6 Iraqis complain that they were pushed back from Greece to Turkey on the same day of the decision. One Applicant from Turkey was imprisoned due to her political persecution after the refoulement. GCR submitted a Full Application before the Court.

69. Application regarding two Turkish and 7 Iraqi refugees, Interim measures granted on 3/7/2024

Two Turkish and 7 Iraqi Applicants complain that they were pushed back from Greece to Turkey. One Applicant, after his new entrance in Greece, was formally arrested and registered. The rest of the Applicants went missing and GCR is not aware of their whereabouts.

70. Application no. 18550/24 N.W.A. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 3/7/2024

 10 Syrian asylum seekers went missing in Greece while the decision of the R39 application was pending. Up till now GCR is not aware of their whereabouts.

71. Application regarding one Turkish refugee, Interim measures granted on 3/7/2024

The Turkish asylum seeker was officially arrested and registered after the adoption of the R39 decision.

72. Application regarding two Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 3/7/2024

The two Turkish Applicants went missing in Greece (Nea Vyssa/Evros) while the adoption of the decision was pending. Up till now, GCR is not aware of their whereabouts.

73. Application no. 18956/24, Y.A. and Others v. Greece Interim measures granted on 9/7/2024

16 asylum seekers (14 Palestinians, 1 Syrian unaccompanied minor and one Egyptian) complain that they were detained in Greece and then pushed back to Turkey after the adoption of the decision. They also complain that in the past they had been pushed back from Greece to Turkey several times. One Applicant complains that during a previous pushback, she got separated from her minor son. Up till now GCR is not aware of the whereabouts of the 16 Applicants.

74. Application no. 21570/24, K.A. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 2/8/2024

22 Syrians and Afghans were allegedly pushed back from Greece to Turkey after the adoption of the decision. The Applicants complain that previously they had been pushed back from Greece to Turkey several times.

75. Application no. 23449/24 S.A. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 20/8/2024

14 Syrians and Palestinians were allegedly pushed back from Greece to Turkey after the adoption of the decision. The Applicants complain that they had been pushed back from Greece to Turkey several times and one Applicant, according a number of the Applicants, drown in the river.

76. Application regarding one Turkish refugee, Interim measures granted on 20/8/2024

One Turkish asylum seeker went missing while the adoption of the decision was pending. Three days later, the Applicant was formally arrested and registered.

77. Application regarding 6 Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 11/9/2024

The 6 Turkish Applicants went missing while the adoption of the decision was pending. According to information received by the GCR, 5 Applicants were pushed back from Greece to Turkey on 12.9.2024. One Applicant remained in Greece and he was officially arrested two days after the adoption of the decision. Two more Applicants, after a new entrance in Greece, were formally arrested and registered. The rest of the Applicants, three Applicants in total, went missing and GCR is not aware of their whereabouts.

78. Application no. 25772/24 K.A. and Others v. Greece, Interim measures granted on 12/9/2024

14 Syrian and Palestinian asylum seekers, together with an Applicant in Application no. 21570/24, K.A. and Others v. Greece (2/8/2024) and three Applicants in Application no. 23449/24 S.A. and Others v. Greece (20/8/2024) were officially arrested and registered after the adoption of the decision.

79. Application regarding 6 Turkish and 6 Iraqi refugees, Interim measures granted on 17/9/2024 (Application lodged on 16.9.2024)

The 12 Applicants (6 Turkish and a family of 6 Iraqis) went missing while the adoption of the decision was pending. Up till now, GCR is not aware of the whereabouts of the 12 Applicants. One of the Applicants also complained that the group of refugees was pushed back at that date, then he re-entered Greece but was pushed back again to Turkey.

80. Application regarding 3 Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 17/9/2024 (Application lodged on 16.9.2024)

The 3 Turkish applicants went missing on 16 September 2024, while the decision of the Court was pending and GCR is not aware of their current whereabouts.

81. Application regarding 3 Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 19/9/2024

The 3 Turkish applicants went missing on 19 September 2024, while the decision of the Court was pending and GCR is not aware of their current whereabouts.

82. Application no. 27268/24 D.M.S. and Others v. Greece regarding in total 17 refugees (Syrians and one Palestinian), Interim measures granted on 26/9/2024

The 17 Applicants complain that they were pushed back from Greece to Turkey the day after the issuance of the decision and since then two more times. 5 Applicants after their (last) pushback are in Turkey, while 12 Applicants went missing in Greece.

83. Application regarding 4 Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 30/9/2024

The 4 Turkish applicants went missing on 30 September 2024, while the decision of the Court was pending and GCR is not aware of their current whereabouts.

84. Application regarding 3 Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 30/9/2024

The 3 Turkish applicants went missing on 30 September 2024, while the decision of the Court was pending and GCR is not aware of their current whereabouts.

85. Application regarding 3 Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 7/10/2024

The 3 Turkish applicants went missing while the decision of the Court was pending and GCR is not aware of the current whereabouts of two of the Applicants. One Applicant complains that he was pushed back to Turkey at that date, while he got separated from the two other Applicants.

86. Application no. 29481/24 S.H.O. and Others v. Greece regarding 18 Syrian refugees, Interim measures granted on 15/10/2024

The 18 Syrian Applicants, together with another Syrian asylum seeker were officially arrested and registered, after the adoption of the decision of the Court on Interim Measures. The Applicants complain that after the adoption of the decision on Interim Measures and prior to their official arrest, they were pushed back twice from Greece to Turkey.

87. Application no. 32441/24 A.N.G. and Others v. Greece_ regarding 27 Syrian, Iraqi and stateless refugees, Interim measures granted on 7/11/2024

The 27 Applicants went missing after the adoption of the decision. A number of Applicants later described to GCR that they have been pushed back three times from Greece to Turkey while the R39 decision was still active. GCR is not aware of the present whereabouts of the Applicants but according to the testimonies of other asylum seekers-Applicants, a number of Applicants have been deported from Turkey to their country of origin.

88. Application regarding 2 Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 7/11/2024

2 Turkish asylum seekers went missing while the adoption of the decision was pending. The Applicants complain that they were pushed backed from Greece to Turkey and one of the Applicants was consequently imprisoned by the Turkish Authorities due to his previous political persecution and conviction. One of the Applicants re-entered Greece at a later date in November and then officially arrested. Another Applicant re-entered Greece at a later date and went missing again, while the previous decision on Interim measure was still active (interim measure No96). The GCR received information from relatives that he was pushed back from Greece to Turkey, together with two other asylum seekers, and then imprisoned in his country of origin due to his previous political persecution and conviction.

89. Application regarding 2 Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 21/11/2024

2 Turkish asylum seekers went missing while the adoption of the decision was pending. The official arrest of the Applicants was never confirmed by the competent Greek Authorities. Up till now, GCR is not aware of the current whereabouts of the Applicants.

90. Application no. 34245/24 F.E. and Others v. Greece regarding 12 Syrian and two Palestinian refugees, Interim measures granted on 21/11/2024

12 Syrian refugees complain that they were pushed back from Greece to Turkey twice after the adoption of the decision. The applicants re-entered Greece and 10 out of the 12 Applicants were formally arrested and registered after their third entrance in Greece. Two Applicant remain missing and the GCR is not aware of their current whereabouts. A full application has been submitted before the Court. 

91. Application regarding 4 Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 25/11/2024

4 Turkish asylum seekers went missing while the adoption of the decision was pending. The official arrest of the Applicants was never confirmed by the competent Greek Authorities.  Up till now, GCR is not aware of the current whereabouts of the Applicants.

92. Application regarding 4 Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 28/11/2024

4 Turkish asylum seekers went missing while the adoption of the decision was pending. One Applicant re-entered Greece on the next day together with 7 more asylum seekers (6 Turkish and 1 Syrian) and complained to GCR that the previous day he was pushed back. The Applicant went missing again and his official arrest was not confirmed.

93. Application regarding 6 Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 6/12/2024

6 Turkish asylum seekers went missing while the adoption of the decision was pending. The official arrest of the Applicants was never confirmed by the competent Greek Authorities. Up till now, GCR is not aware of the current whereabouts of the Applicants.

94. Application regarding 1 Turkish refugee, Interim measures granted on 2/12/2024

One Turkish asylum seeker went missing while the adoption of the decision was pending. The official arrest of the Applicant was never confirmed by the competent Greek Authorities. Up till now, GCR is not aware of the current whereabouts of the Applicant.

95. Application regarding 3 Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 6/12/2024

3 Turkish asylum seekers went missing while the adoption of the decision was pending. The official arrest of the Applicants was never confirmed by the competent Greek Authorities. The GCR received information by an Applicant that they were all pushed back from Greece to Turkey and, according to the same Applicant, the two Applicants were arrested and imprisoned in their country of origin due to their previous political persecution and convictions. A full application has been submitted before the Court. 

96. Application regarding 2 Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 10/12/2024

2 Turkish asylum seekers went missing while the adoption of the decision was pending. They entered Greece with another Applicant, for whom the ECtHR already indicated an interim measure on 7/11/2024 (Interim Measure No88). The GCR received information by an Applicant that they were all pushed back from Greece to Turkey and, according to the same Applicant and the relatives of another Applicant, the two other Applicants were arrested and imprisoned in their country of origin due to their previous political persecution and convictions.

97. Application no. 36905/24 H.S.K. and Others v. Greece regarding 11 Iraqis and one Palestinian refugees, Interim measures granted on 16/12/2024

12 asylum seekers (11 Iraqis and 1 Palestinian) complain that they were pushed back from Greece to Turkey twice, the first time after the written intervention to the Greek Authorities by the GCR and prior to the adoption of the decision, while in Greece they were together with 5 more Applicants with an active interim measure (Interim Measure No 87). The 12 applicants re-entered Greece after the adoption of the decision and complain that they were pushed back again to Turkey. GCR is not aware of their exact whereabouts in Turkey.

98. Application no. 2851/25 A.S. and Others v. Greece regarding 4 Afghan refugees (family with two minor children), Interim measures granted on 27/1/2025

4 Afghan Applicants (family with two minor children), went missing in Amorio, Evros while the adoption of the decision was pending. The official arrest of the Applicants was never confirmed by the competent Greek Authorities. Up till now, GCR is not aware of the current whereabouts of the Applicants.

99. Application regarding 1 Turkish refugee, Interim measures granted on 28/1/2025

The Applicant went missing while the adoption of the decision was pending. In the following days, the family of the Applicant informed the GCR that the Applicant was pushed back from Greece to Turkey at the date of the adoption of the decision, information later confirmed by the Applicant. In February 2025, the Applicant re-entered Greece, arrived on a Greek island (North-eastern Aegean) and was officially arrested and registered.

100. Application regarding 4 Afghan (family with two minor children) and 1 Turkish refugees, Interim measures granted on 14/1/2025

The five applicants (family of four Afghans including a pregnant mother with two minor children and 1 Turkish) went missing while the decision of the Court was pending and GCR is not aware of their current whereabouts.

 

GCR calls on the Greek authorities to stop refoulements and urgently and immediately comply with the ECtHR’s decisions, before more refugees are put at risk. 

Since January 2022, GCR has sent at least 758 interventions to the Greek authorities for the cases of more than 5126 refugees including many children, from Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Yemen, Iran, Somalia and stateless refugees, the vast majority of whom entered Greece from the Evros region seeking international protection. In approximately half of these interventions, the Greek authorities responded positively on locating them and providing them access to the procedures provided by law.  Regarding the rest of the interventions, the Greek authorities either did not reply or replied that they had not been able to locate them. In some of these interventions, which concerned refugees mostly from Syria and Turkey but also from Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan, our organization was informed later that the refugees were informally and forcibly returned to Turkey, without being given the opportunity to submit an asylum application. For the rest of these interventions our organization had no information on the whereabouts of the refugees.

Indicatively, only in 2023, GCR has sent one hundred ninety-five (195) written interventions to the Greek authorities for the cases of a total of 2119 refugees (from Türkiye, Syria, Palestine, Afghanistan, Iran and of unknown nationality) seeking international protection, who entered Greece from the Evros region. Ιn 112 interventions out of the 195, connected to a total of 1508 asylum seekers from Türkiye, Syria, Afghanistan and Iran, the Greek authorities responded positively that they located the refugees and provided them access to the procedures provided by law. In the rest 83 interventions, GCR did not receive confirmation from the police about the arrest of a total of 611 refugees.

In 2024, GCR has sent three hundred and sixty-nine (369) written interventions to the Greek authorities for the cases of a total of one thousand nine hundred and twenty-eight (1,928) asylum seekers (from Türkiye, Syria, Palestine and Afghanistan) seeking international protection, who entered Greece, most of them in the Evros region. Οne thousand and fifty-six (1,056) asylum seekers were officially arrested and registered in Greece. Nine hundred and forty-five (945) asylum seekers either went missing (asylum seekers in 70 cases) or informed GCR (asylum seekers in at least 52 cases) that they had been victims of a pushback operation. In 2024, GCR submitted fifty-five (55) requests for interim measures (R39) before ECHR, all granted within the same day or the next day of the applications related to a total of 419 asylum seekers.