The European Commission has called on Greek authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into new allegations of illegal deportation of migrants, Ylva Johansson, Commissioner EU for internal affairs.
Video footage released Friday by the New York Times shows the Greek Coast Guard rounding up asylum seekers, including young children, and throwing them on a raft into the sea in April.
On April 11, on the island of Lesvos, twelve migrants, including men, women, children and an infant, were locked in an unmarked van, forcibly put on a boat, transferred to a Greek Coast Guard vessel, and then abandoned in the middle of the Aegean Sea. pic.twitter.com/Nio4lg9smJ
— Athens News (@russianathens) May 22, 2023
As it became known to the American edition, on April 11, twelve migrants were on the island of Lesvos, including men, women, children and an infant were locked in an unmarked van, forcibly put on a boat, transported to a Greek Coast Guard ship and then abandoned in the middle of the Aegean Sea, in violation of Greek, European and international law. They were then left to drift on an inflatable life raft.
On the island of Lesvos on April 11, twelve migrants, including men, women, children and an infant, were locked in an unmarked van, forcibly boarded a boat, transported to a Greek Coast Guard vessel, and then abandoned in the middle of the Aegean Sea. pic.twitter.com/uFco72xe0E
— Athens News (@russianathens) May 22, 2023
Johansson tweeted referring to the report: “My services have sent a formal request to the Greek authorities for this incident to be fully and independently investigated.” She underlined the need for the Greek authorities to take appropriate action based on the findings and also take into account the recommendations of the newly established independent monitoring mechanism. “The European Commission stands ready to take formal steps if necessary,” she added.
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One year ago I met with the Greek Government @govgr to discuss border management and I made clear that there is no place for illegal deportations.
Last Friday, May 19, The New York Times @nytimes presented a report on an alleged illegal deportation, in April…— Ylva Johansson (@YlvaJohansson) May 22, 2023
“A year ago I met with the Greek governmentto discuss border management and made it clear that illegal deportations had no place. Last Friday, May 19, The New York Times submitted a report on the alleged illegal deportation in April of this year. MBoth services have sent a formal request to the Greek authorities for a full and independent investigation into this incident.”
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