Council of Europe urges Greece to prevent migrant pushbacks

Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - The Council of Europe on Tuesday urged Greece to prevent migrant pushbacks and ensure accountability for human rights violations at its borders.

In a memorandum published after a visit to Greece, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty expressed concern over consistent reports of ongoing pushbacks at both land and maritime borders.

He also cited allegations of unnecessary or excessive use of force and sexual violence by law enforcement personnel during such operations.

O’Flaherty warned that returning migrants without proper individual identification procedures risks exposing them to human rights abuses and may lead to violations of binding European and international law.

“He recommends adopting a zero-tolerance approach to summary returns and other human rights violations, ensuring that allegations of such practices are promptly, impartially, thoroughly and effectively investigated and that all persons being subjected to border control operations have adequate access to individualised procedures to raise protection needs, as well as to effective remedies,” the memorandum said.

The commissioner also raised concerns about persistent shortcomings in ensuring accountability for abuses at the borders.

“While steps have been taken to foster accountability, problems persist in carrying out effective investigations, as also attested by recent judgments of the European Court of Human Rights,” he said.