Author Archives: Tommy Olsen

Wednesday April 6, at 15.00, a boat carrying 31 people arrived south of the airport on Lesvos south. After arriving they quickly ran into the woods, hid in several groups in the surrounding area, scared to be found by authorities and illegal sent back to Turkey. In a normal world this would not have beenContinue reading “Our Precious “European Values””

The EU-Turkey Deal was signed six years ago today (it came into effect two days later, on 20 March 2016). As we and many others advised at the time, the Deal was a poor idea, written in a moment of panic by EU staff who had watched as, in their desperation to prevent refugees enteringContinue reading “Six years of failure. Time to ditch the Deal”

Last week, we asked the European Court of Human Rights to intervene with an urgent measure under Rule 39 of the Rules of Court to prevent the pushback of four asylum-seekers from Greek territory (Aegean islands). Initially, the Court issued a provisional decision, asking to the Greek Government information about the steps that had beenContinue reading “Groundbreaking decision in our first pushback case before the European Court of Human Rights”

On Tuesday March 8, a boat carrying 20 Palestinians from Gaza, 10 men, 3 women and 7 children, landed on the south east shores of Chios, not far from Nenita. After arriving they fled to the woods in the surrounding areas, in fear of being found and arrested by Greek police. The group remained inContinue reading “Human rights belongs to everyone, or do they?”

On Monday Aegean Boat Report published an urgent appeal to prevent a pushback on Lesvos. This appeal was only partially successful, 14 people, amongst them 8 children, was prevented from being pushed back, 17 people from the same group was found drifting in a life raft hours later, amongst them 8 children and a pregnantContinue reading “The Refugee Lottery”

Even as Greek politicians – and others from across Europe – said they would obey international law by welcoming people fleeing terror and chaos in Ukraine, the Greek government was beating, robbing, humiliating and risking the lives of men, women and children from other parts of the world, who are searching for safety. On FebruaryContinue reading “Beaten, robbed and forced to paddle themselves by hand back to Turkey: Greece’s government continues its barbaric pushbacks regime”

At the beginning of this week, we asked the European Court of Human Rights to intervene with an urgent measure under Rule 39 of the Rules of Court to prevent the pushback of four asylum-seekers from Greek territory (Aegean islands). In reply to our request, the Court has issued a provisional decision asking the GreekContinue reading “An Important Step Forward In Our Fight Against Pushbacks!”

A massive increase in refugees trying to cross the Aegean Sea from Turkey towards Europe, in the last five days 1500 people have started on this dangerous journey, only 58 have arrived in Greek Aegean Islands. The increase in large boats carrying hundreds of people is especially worrying. Old condemned cargo and fishing vessels haveContinue reading “An Industry Of Misery”

On Saturday morning, February 5, a boat carrying approximately 20 people arrived on Samos. Aegean Boat Report called on local NGO’s, lawyers and organizations to intervene, to try to prevent them from being pushed back. «A call for help on Samos⚠️ A group of 20 people arrived on Samos before first light this morning andContinue reading “European Values At A Crossroads”

In the early hours of Sunday, January 30, a group of 21 refugees arrived by boat north of Gridia, Chios south east. Immediately after arriving they split up in several smaller group, hiding in the surrounding areas, scared to be located by police and pushed back to Turkey. At first light a group of 12Continue reading “There Is No End To The Cruelty”