Press Release

Legal Centre Lesvos publishes today a forensic reconstruction video, linked here, produced by an independent forensic research team. The team held interviews with survivors of the pushback, analysed testimonies and available evidence of the pushback, including evidence from Greek authorities and Frontex, and produced a reconstruction video of the events on 20-21 October 2020.

Joint statement by Legal Centre Lesvos, Borderline-Europe, Can't Evict Solidarity and Aegean Migrant Solidarity
On 05 December 2022, after more than 2,5 years of waiting, the trial of A.B. will take place in Mytilene, Lesvos. Despite video evidence to the contrary, A.B. was singled out by the authorities and accused of steering the boat in which he and 28 others arrived in Greece.

In view of the mandatory reassessment by Greece of the designation of Türkiye as a “safe third country” in November, 15 civil society organisations have written to the Greek Asylum Service, the Ministers of Migration and Asylum and of Foreign Affairs, and the European Commission urging them to:

Immediately repeal the national list of safe third countries set out by JMD 42799/2021, as amended by JMD 458568/2021.

Publish previous and upcoming opinions of the Director of the Asylum Service regarding the designation of safe third countries, which should be made available to asylum seekers subject to the application of the list according to the European Commission.

Stop dismissing asylum applications as inadmissible based on the “safe third country” concept.

Ο Συνήγορος καλεί την πολιτική ηγεσία να επανεξετάσει τη συμμετοχή του στις επιτροπές αυτές προκειμένου να διασφαλίσει τον ρόλο και την φυσιογνωμία της Ανεξάρτητης Αρχής αλλά και των προαναφερόμενων επιτροπών.

The Court observed that criminal proceedings had been instituted against the coastguards involved in the events in question. Such proceedings were in principle capable of shedding light on the circumstances of the case and leading to the establishment of the facts and, where appropriate, the punishment of those responsible.

Οι εκπρόσωποι των Οργανώσεων της Κοινωνίας των Πολιτών, ζητάμε από την ελληνική Πολιτεία να επιληφθεί του προβλήματος και να θεσπίσει ειδική άδεια διαμονής μέχρι την συμπλήρωση του 21ου έτος της ηλικίας τους - παράλληλα με το δικαίωμα για διεθνή προστασία - για τα ασυνόδευτα παιδιά, καθώς και για όσα από αυτά ενηλικιώνονται.