Report – State Department rap on Greece: Repatriations, wiretapping, police brutality, freedom of expression and government corruption – The Press Project

The US State Department in its 2023 report points out that the US government has taken steps to investigate and punish officials who committed acts of human rights violations, also emphasizing that there are complaints from both non-governmental and international organizations about the failure of the government to shed light on allegations of illegal refoulements of refugees and migrants but also allegations of abuse of migrants, not only in refoulement operations but also in pre-departure centers and detention centres.

In the introductory text of the report it is emphasized that there are credible reports of “cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of detainees, migrants and asylum seekers by the authorities”, of “crimes involving the targeting of members of racial or ethnic minorities”, of “crimes involving to violence or threats of violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or intersex people’. On the 46 pages of the report, extensive reference is made to many corruption cases, but also to the great scandal of wiretapping and Predator.

Torture, theft, and repatriation of refugees and immigrants by the authorities

As stated in the report, NGOs argue that despite UN and EU reports, and the January 2023 Interim Report on the Mechanism for Recording Informal Forced Returns under the National Human Rights Commission, the country had not effectively investigated the complaints of violent pushbacks. NGOs also highlight the need for an independent authority to investigate allegations of violence and other violations, but the government maintains that existing safeguards are adequate, including the judicial system, the National Transparency Authority and the Special Committee on Compliance with Fundamental Rights of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum, questioning the need for an additional investigative body.

The report also notes complaints from both NGOs and international organizations that authorities beat migrants and asylum seekers and took away their personal documents, personal belongings and money. Also included are allegations that authorities left migrants and asylum seekers stranded in the Aegean or in the land border area of ​​the Evros without access to food, water or medical care.

Elsewhere he refers to a report by El Pais which analyzed 374 incidents at the Evros border involving the authorities and involving more than 20,000 people who were forced back immediately after their arrival. The article states that police forces have confiscated more than 2 million euros, mobile phones and other valuables. The article also reported that 92 percent of people who were reposted in 2022 reported being victims of theft.

There is also reference to the report by the Border Violence Monitoring Network, a consortium of 12 NGOs across Europe, which in February presented findings based on interviews with 50 detainees in Greek pre-departure centres. 65% claimed to have experienced or witnessed violence from the Authorities. 25% claimed that the authorities used physical violence, including the use of tasers, as a form of coercion or punishment.

In another point, the overcrowding of prisons and detention centers is mentioned, as well as the miserable living conditions, with the facilities lacking in hygiene and health care. In August, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment published a report based on its November 2022 visit to the Korydallos Prison Psychiatric Hospital. The report noted “overcrowded and dilapidated” rooms with no “real occupational therapy services” and insufficient medical staff for the 170 patients. For the period 2022-2023, the government implemented a special program, worth 24 million euros ($25.9 million) and targeting 7,000 beneficiaries, to strengthen the future reintegration of prisoners,” the report notes.

The State Department points out that even government data shows that the prison population has exceeded their capacity, emphasizes that violent incidents are increasing and underlines that immigrants and asylum seekers detained by EL.AS. and the Coast Guard speak of deplorable or degrading detention conditions.

Shipwreck of Pylos

According to the State Department, “there have been reports of physical abuse and violence by members of the Hellenic Police and Coast Guard against migrants and asylum seekers during refoulement operations. In its interim report in January, the Mechanism for Recording Incidents of Informal Forced Returns, a body convened under the National Human Rights Commission and made up of several NGOs under the supervision of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, recorded 50 such incidents between April 2020 and October 2022, affecting approximately 2,157 people. Of the 58 testimonies, 51 alleged violence during the physical removal, either against the person testifying or against other people in the group who were pushed away. The charges included physical and verbal abuse and threats, sexual abuse and confiscation of personal items.

As stated in the report, some local and international organizations have claimed, based on the testimonies of survivors, that the sinking of the fishing vessel Adriana on June 14 (also known as the Pylos wreck) was the result of the Coast Guard’s efforts to remove the vessel from territorial waters of the country. Judicial authorities have launched an investigation into the sinking, in which an estimated 600 migrants and asylum seekers died after being put in a precarious situation by criminal smugglers. The government said the vessel was in international waters at the time of the incident. On 26 July, the EU Ombudsman launched an investigation and requested access to FRONTEX (European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders) files regarding the Adriana wreck. In September, 40 survivors of the Adriana wreck filed a lawsuit at the Piraeus Maritime Court. On November 10, Ombudsman Andreas Pottakis launched an independent investigation into the wreck after Coast Guard leadership refused his written requests to conduct a thorough internal investigation.

The Racist Violence Recording Network (RVRN) reported incidents of abuse based on ethnicity, religion or skin colour, as well as abuse of human rights activists because of their involvement in helping migrant groups.”

Wiretapping

The State Department also noted the European Parliament report which said the country used spyware against journalists, politicians and businessmen, but also exported the spyware to countries with poor human rights records.

Extensive reference is made to the case of Artemis Sifford, a former Meta employee who fell victim to the Predator. “In July, the Data Protection Authority presented evidence suggesting that in 2022 at least 92 Greek citizens were the victims of an attempt to target them with the Predator, with the Authority stating that it has no evidence to show the origin of these attempts,” the report notes, adding that the investigation is ongoing.

Freedom of press

Regarding the right to Freedom of the Press, the State Department states that the Greek constitution and law provide for freedom of expression and “the government respected this right.” However, he then notes that both domestic and international news agencies report that journalists and the media are under pressure to not criticize and to cover up scandals.

Government corruption

As stated in the report: “The law provides for criminal penalties for officials convicted of corruption, and the government generally implemented the law effectively. There were some reports of government corruption. The National Transparency Authority oversaw the implementation of a National Anti-Corruption Action Plan for the period 2022-2025, conducted investigations and monitored the implementation of provisions on asset declarations and lobbying activities. Fraud and corruption cases were assigned to the General Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crime Unit of the Ministry of Finance. The Home Affairs Directorate investigated corruption within the Independent Inland Revenue Authority. The Internal Affairs Service for law enforcement investigated crimes, including corruption, committed by law enforcement. The Court of Audit was the highest financial court and control body regarding the use of public funds.

The most notable corruption cases during the year involved the police. On January 29, Supreme Court prosecutor Dogiakos ordered a preliminary investigation into a press report alleging links between high-ranking police officers and leaders of criminal gangs. On May 29, authorities arrested five border police officers on charges of involvement in a smuggling ring bringing migrants from Turkey.”