Greece is up in arms against the United States after a State Department report on human rights sharply criticized the Greek government on a number of issues.
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement questioning the reliability of State Department sources.
Greece applies the same tactics to European Parliament reports.
State Department Human Rights Report
Over the past year, the human rights situation in Greece has not changed significantly.
Significant human rights concerns include credible reports of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of prisoners, migrants and asylum seekers in prisons by law enforcement authorities; crimes involving violence against members of national, racial or ethnic minorities; and crimes involving violence or threats of violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or intersex people.
The government regularly took action to investigate, prosecute, and punish officials who committed human rights abuses, both within the security forces and elsewhere in the government. However, nongovernmental organizations and international organizations complained about the government's failure to effectively investigate allegations of forced returns of asylum seekers and bring those responsible to justice.
Key points
2023 Reports on Human Rights Practice: Greece
US State Department
- Brutality and abuse by police and coast guards.
- Prisons and detention centers remain overcrowded, often with inadequate sanitation or medical care and repeated police violence.
- Using spyware against “journalists, politicians and businessmen” and exporting spyware to countries with poor human rights records.
- Journalists and media outlets were pressured to avoid criticizing the government or covering scandals.
- Wiretapping of journalists, presumably by intelligence agencies and using the Predator spy program.
- Government control over the media.
- Violence against journalists.
- Major publications try not to publish unflattering news about the government, including accusations of human rights violations.
- Journalists have encountered “criminal lawsuits and strategic lawsuits against public participation for their investigative journalism on corruption and environmental pollution.”
- The government must conduct a transparent investigation into reports of police violence during demonstrations.
- Physical abuse and brutality by Greek police and coast guard personnel against migrants and asylum seekers during pushback operations.
Full report at the US State Department
Statement by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The report contains, without further investigation, allegations made by non-governmental organizations, none of which have been independently verified.
It is because of this blanket registration that it seems that serious human rights problems exist in all countries with a developed system of rule of law.
The fact that the Greek State was not asked for its opinion on the issues mentioned is of particular importance for the integrity, reliability and objectivity of the report.
While progress in protecting rights in Greece is acknowledged on many levels, the report overlooks or completely ignores regulatory measures and national strategies in recent years aimed at ensuring the rights of vulnerable groups of citizens, such as people with disabilities, LGBTQ people and unaccompanied minors.
Over time, reports on Greece have raised similar human rights concerns. In particular, in the period 2016-2019, very serious charges were brought forward, which were gradually examined.
The Greek government will continue to consistently serve democracy and the rule of law in Greece, deepening the de facto equality of citizens and their personal and social rights, as well as raising their standard of living.
The reaction of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is interesting:
Prime Minister Mitsotakis admitted that Greece is not an ideal country in terms of the rule of law. “We have room to improve. We recognize this and constantly strive to improve. But, by God, Greece is not the Hungary of the south, and the rule of law has not been overthrown,” Mitsotakis said in an interview with Sky TV. And there is no point for the opposition to talk about the “Mitsotakis regime,” Mitsotakis said. And those who complain about surveillance, like PASOK leader Androulakis, discredit the country abroad, in absolute coordination with who knows.”Mitsotakis said.
PS In other words: we tried so hard for you, breaking all possible laws, and you also criticize us. “Abidna, listen.” And Androulakis is clearly working for Putin. I swear to my mom…
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