For years, Greek authorities have carried out a systematic campaign to intimidate, criminalise, and silence those who expose human rights violations, illegal pushbacks, and the ill-treatment of vulnerable people at Europe’s maritime borders. Aegean Boat Report, along with other frontline defenders, has been deliberately targeted: This is no coincidence. It is a calculated government strategyContinue reading “Silencing the Watchdogs: Greece Escalates Its Crackdown on NGOs and Human Rights Defenders”
Category Archives: Blog
Greek Coast Guard Performed Dangerous Towing In New Pushback, 96 People Onboard
Before midnight on May 25th, Aegean Boat Report was contacted by passengers onboard a drifting vessel only 1.5 km from the southeastern shore of the Greek island of Nisyros. People onboard informed us that the boat was drifting due to a malfunctioning engine, and that there were 100 passengers onboard, over 30 of them smallContinue reading “Greek Coast Guard Performed Dangerous Towing In New Pushback, 96 People Onboard”
Small Children Abandoned At Sea By The Greek Coast Guard
In the morning of Thursday May 1, a boat in distress north of Samos, inside Greek territory waters, contacted Aegean Boat Report and asked for assistance. They explained that they were on the way to Samos, but were brutally stopped by a vessel from the Greek coast guard. Masked men on the coast guard vesselContinue reading “Small Children Abandoned At Sea By The Greek Coast Guard”
Small Children Left Drifting At Sea By The Greek Coast Guard
Just after midnight, on Saturday April 5, Aegean Boat Report was contacted by a group of 24 people, 10 of them small children, and a cat, who a few hours earlier had arrived on the Greek island of Kastellorizo. The group reported being wet and could and stated “please we need help urgently, it’s darkContinue reading “Small Children Left Drifting At Sea By The Greek Coast Guard”
Sharp increases in arrests of what Greek authorities call “Migrant Smugglers”.
Since the start of 2024, 228 people have been arrested under suspicion of being ‘people smugglers’, a 53% increase compared to 2023, according to Hellenic Coast Guard official data. If the people arrested had in fact been real hardcore smugglers, criminals whose only goal was to make money on others misery, I guess most ofContinue reading “Sharp increases in arrests of what Greek authorities call “Migrant Smugglers”.”
Frontex Found Guilty Again Of Pushbacks From Greece
The EU’s official ‘border agency’ Frontex has once again been proven to have taken part in illegal pushbacks in Greece. A newly released Serious Incident Report (SIR) by Frontex’ own Fundamental Rights Office, details a pushback performed in February by the Greek coast guard, assisted by Bulgarian Frontex, outside Lesvos. In previous cases where FrontexContinue reading “Frontex Found Guilty Again Of Pushbacks From Greece”
Greece’s ‘Coastguard’ Firing On Civilians
This summer, the Greek Coastguard has escalated its illegal and vicious violence against people travelling to seek safety, by opening fire on boats carrying men, women and children, including shooting one man dead. How much more has to happen, and for how long, before the EU pays attention, and takes action against this horrifying practice? Continue reading “Greece’s ‘Coastguard’ Firing On Civilians”
Frontex Covering Up Greek Pushbacks
Frontex involvement in illegal pushbacks in Greece, are ones again proven, this time in a newly released serious Incident Report(SIR) by Frontex own Fundamental Rights Office, from a pushback performed by Greek coast guard outside Lesvos, assisted by Latvian Frontex. In the afternoon of 25 January, a boat carrying 38 people, all Afghans, had almostContinue reading “Frontex Covering Up Greek Pushbacks”
Pushbacks as Border Management, Financed by the European Commission
In the morning of Tuesday, August 20, a group of 22 people, 17 adults and 5 children, contacted Aegean Boat Report for assistance, after they had arrived on the Greek island of Farmakonisi in the Dodecanese. The group was scared, and asked for assistance, so that they could be taken to the nearest port ofContinue reading “Pushbacks as Border Management, Financed by the European Commission”
87 People Kidnapped By Greek Coast Guard And Abandoned In Liferafts
Tuesday night, August 13, a sailboat reported to be carrying 87 people, 72 adults and 15 children, contacted Aegean Boat Report for assistance after they ended up in distress 14 nautical miles south east of Syrna in the Dodecanese. The Smugler originally driving the boat, had left on a small speedboat, and headed back toContinue reading “87 People Kidnapped By Greek Coast Guard And Abandoned In Liferafts”