Greece accuses Turkey of pushing migrants into Greece

Greece accused Turkey of pushing out migrants to the territory of Greece. The charges were brought by Migration and Asylum Minister Notis Mitarakis, who visited the Evros River area the day after police evacuated 38 migrants stranded on an island on the natural border between the two countries.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement along the same lines.

“The recent incident involving the advancement of asylum seekers from Turkey to Greece in the Evros region is yet another attempt by Turkey to exploit the problem of refugee migrants and possibly create a border problem at the same time.“, the ministry said in a statement.

During a visit to Evros on Tuesday, Migration Minister Notis Mitarakis said a group of 38 migrants – 35 Syrians and three Palestinians – arrived on the Turkish side of the river before the Turkish authorities forcibly pushed them onto the island.

“The Turkish authorities arrested these migrants inside Turkey, they did not give them the right to apply for international protection, as Turkey is obliged to do in accordance with international law,” Minister Mitarakis said. “The Turkish gendarmerie brought them to the coast of Evros and, under the threat of violence, forced them to come to Greece,” he added.

As soon as the 38 migrants were on Greek soil, Greek authorities rounded them up and we provided medical treatment. They are all in very good health, one pregnant woman is hospitalized as a precaution.

— Νότης Μηταράκης – Notis Mitarachi (@nmitarakis) August 16, 2022

As soon as 38 migrants were on Greek soil, the Greek authorities detained them and we provided them with medical assistance. They are all in very good condition, one pregnant woman was hospitalized as a precautionary measure.

Mitarakis went on to say that a 5-year-old child died on Turkish soil based on the testimony of migrants, adding that the government would work with the Red Cross and Red Crescent to ensure the family could find the body and hold a decent funeral.

Οι 38 μετανάστες στον #Έβρο βρίσκονται με ασφάλεια στη χώρα μας. Κατά δήλωσή τους βρέθηκαν σε μία νησίδα, αλλά όχι για όσες μέρες έγραψαν τα ξένα ΜΜΕ διότι πάλι κατά δήλωσή τους, οι τούρκοι τους μετακίνησαν σε τρία διαφορετικά δυνητικά σημεία εισόδου. pic.twitter.com/D3lMQMFDYA

— Νότης Μηταράκης – Notis Mitarachi (@nmitarakis) August 17, 2022

38 immigrants in Evros are safely in our country. According to them, they were on the island, but not for as many days as foreign media wrote, because, again, according to them, the Turks moved them to three different places to cross the border. The Turkish authorities forced them to move illegally to Greece. They arrested them and did not give them the right to apply for international protection, as Turkey is obliged to do under international law.

Between these three attempts to bring them into our country, the Turks took them back to the accommodation facilities, fed them, gave them drink, charged their mobile phones, and forcibly sent back, as 38 migrants say, to re-attempt entry.

pic.twitter.com/VtHKQepWH9

— Νότης Μηταράκης – Notis Mitarachi (@nmitarakis) August 16, 2022

According to media reports, migrants have been stuck on the island since August 7. After crossing the river on Monday, they were found in the Lavara area and taken to the Reception and Identification Center.

Despite calls for rescue from several non-governmental organizations, Greek authorities later said that the group was not in Greek territory. In the end, groups of 35 Syrians and three Palestinians managed to cross to the banks of the Greek river, apparently on a boat provided by the Turkish authorities with the help of smugglers.

The day before the migrants were rescued, on August 15, Greek police said that searches in the area to locate the group had been fruitless.

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