Greek Police Using Masked Migrants To Force Others Back Across Border
Greek police have been recruiting masked migrants to carry out illegal pushbacks of other asylum seekers at the country's borders, the BBC has reported. The disturbing practice, according to sources who spoke to the broadcaster, has been in operation since at least 2020.
The individuals involved are said to act as a kind of mercenary force, reportedly being used to forcibly remove other migrants attempting to cross into Greece. The use of third-party nationals to carry out such operations raises serious questions about accountability and the legal frameworks surrounding border enforcement.
Pushbacks, which involve the forced return of migrants and asylum seekers to a neighboring country without due process or proper legal assessment of their cases, are widely considered illegal under international law. The practice violates fundamental principles of refugee protection enshrined in the 1951 Refugee Convention, which Greece is a signatory to.
Greece has long been a primary entry point for migrants and asylum seekers entering Europe, particularly those fleeing conflict zones in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The country has faced enormous pressure managing migration flows across its land border with Turkey and its extensive coastline.
Human rights organisations have for years raised serious concerns about the treatment of migrants at the Greek border. Numerous reports from groups including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented alleged illegal pushbacks by Greek authorities, claims that have consistently been denied by the Greek government.
The latest revelations add a new and troubling dimension to those concerns, suggesting a structured and deliberate operation involving the recruitment of migrants themselves to carry out actions that circumvent legal protections. The use of fellow migrants in such operations could also expose those individuals to significant legal and personal risk.
The European Union has faced criticism for its handling of migration issues more broadly, with border agency Frontex having previously come under scrutiny over its role in pushback incidents. The bloc continues to grapple with divisions among member states over migration policy and the responsibilities of frontline nations.
Greek authorities have not yet issued a formal response to the BBC's latest report. The findings are expected to intensify calls for an independent investigation into border practices and greater oversight of how EU member states manage migration at their external frontiers.
