A media investigation has revealed that the European Border and Coast Guard Agency – Frontex has been involved in several illegal pushbacks of migrants who were trying to enter Greece by crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey.
This comes days after refugees trying to reach western Europe for asylum alleged been whipped, robbed, beaten and, in one case, sexually abused by the Croatian authorities. Danish Refugee Council (DRC), a not-for-profit organisation, has documented a series of brutal pushbacks on the Bosnia-Croatian border.
The new investigation carried out jointly by an Amsterdam based not-for-profit media house – Lighthouse Reports, an investigative journalism website – Bellingcat, a Germany news website – Der Spiegel, German Broadcasting Service – ARD and Japanese news channel – TV Asahi, reveals that Frontex officials were aware of the illegal practices of Greek border guards.
Also known as refoulements, “pushbacks” are incidents where refugees or migrants are illegally returned across a border to a country where they could face persecution. The investigation brought to light 6 cases since April 2020 where Frontex did nothing to stop refugee boats in Greek waters being returned towards Turkey. The findings were based on dozens of videos, satellite imagery and eyewitness. However, Frontex has denied all the allegations and said it has only witnessed one incident of pushback. It refused witnessing any instance of attacks by masked men on dinghies carrying women and children and dangerous wave-making manoeuvres by large vessels that leave radar signatures.
Frontex has deployed about 600 European border guards to the Aegean Sea with ships, drones, planes and thermal vision vehicles
The official twitter account of Frontex tweeted, “Frontex continues to provide support to Greece at its external borders in line with our mandate and in the spirit of EU solidarity, in full respect of fundamental rights and international law.”
Frontex continues to provide support to Greece at its external borders in line with our mandate and in the spirit of EU solidarity, in full respect of fundamental rights and international law.
— Frontex (@Frontex) October 23, 2020
It further tweeted, “Frontex Executive Director has been in contact with the Greek authorities about some incidents at sea in recent months. The Greek authorities have confirmed that an internal inquiry had been launched.”
Frontex Executive Director has been in contact with the Greek authorities about some incidents at sea in recent months. The Greek authorities have confirmed that an internal inquiry had been launched
— Frontex (@Frontex) October 23, 2020
Frontex said its operational officers are bound by the code of conduct that Frontex developed after consultation with a consultative forum. This code of conduct includes a paragraph specifically related to the prevention of refoulement and the upholding of human rights, all in line with the European charter of fundamental rights.
In a separate incident, a Frontex vessel was directly involved in pushing back 47 asylum seekers, off the north-east coast of Lesbos. In another incident, 22 migrants who reached the island of Samos were placed on a life raft, towed out to sea and set adrift by the Greek coastguard. At this time, a private surveillance plane working for Frontex twice passed over the area. This plane was equipped with a camera with low-light and infrared sensors, designed to pick up small craft.
Romanian Border Guard Neustadt class vessel MAI 1103 transits Bosphorus towards Aegean likely en route to Chios, to join @Frontex patrol in the Aegean. pic.twitter.com/8OS3yRNTl7
— Yörük Işık (@YorukIsik) May 18, 2020
While Greece denied it conducted pushbacks of refugees to Turkey, it has also launched an internal inquiry. On a Greek national holiday in August 2020, beachgoers in Lesbos reported watching a pushback incident where a boat of migrants was the centre of a standoff between Greek and Turkish coastguards. Two witnesses, who wished to remain anonymous, told the British daily – The Guardian they observed a Frontex vessel near the incident.
