European Court of Human Rights finds Greece responsible for systematic pushbacks of asylum-seekers

The European Court of Human Rights has condemned Greece for systematically pushing back asylum-seekers at its borders. The historic ruling, issued on 7 January 2025, found that the Greek authorities had violated the rights of a Turkish asylum-seeker identified as A.R.E., who was forcibly expelled to Turkey despite seeking protection in Greece. SRT grantee partner the Greek Council for Refugees, (GCR), which provided A.R.E. with legal representation, hailed it as a “landmark judgment.”

The Court’s decision, the first of its kind concerning Greece, found that A.R.E’s detention by the Greek authorities was unlawful and that her expulsion violated multiple articles of the European Convention on Human Rights. These included the prohibition of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment (Article 3), the right to liberty (Article 5), and the right to an effective remedy (Article 13). In its judgment, the Court concluded that there was a “systematic practice of pushbacks by the Greek authorities of third-country nationals from the Evros region to Türkiye.”

Maria Papamina, A.R.E.’s lawyer and GCR’s Legal Unit Coordinator, stated; “This is a vindication for the thousands of victims who have denounced pushbacks by Greek authorities at the Greek-Turkish border. The ECtHR’s recognition of this illegal practice of the Greek authorities sends a clear message: Greek authorities must stop this illegal practice.”

A.R.E.’s case stems from her entry into Greece in 2019, fleeing political persecution in Turkey. Despite reaching Greek territory, she was detained, pushed back to Turkey without due process, and subsequently arrested and imprisoned there. The pushback occurred under cover of darkness with A.R.E and several other asylum-seekers being forced to board an inflatable boat back to Turkey. Key evidence, including a video uploaded by A.R.E. documenting her presence in Greece, played a pivotal role in the judgment.

Lefteris Papagiannakis, Director of the Greek Council for Refugees, called the decision “game-changing” and noted its potential to set a precedent for similar cases pending before the Court.

Despite the ruling, Greek officials, including Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, have maintained their denial of such practices, claiming adherence to international law. However, advocacy groups have long been highlighting these practices, including Amnesty International which in 2021 characterised pushbacks as a de facto border policy.

This significant judgment exposes the reality of pushbacks in Europe and holds Greece accountable for violating international law.

 


Return to grantee stories