Human Rights Abuses: Greek Police Allegedly Utilizing Migrants in Border Pushbacks

Tue Apr 14 2026 20:11:30 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A shocking report reveals that police in Greece may be recruiting migrants to forcibly push others back across the Turkey-Greece border, raising grave human rights concerns.

Investigation findings suggest that Greek police are utilizing migrants to conduct violent pushbacks across the border with Turkey, often resulting in chaos and severe abuse. Eyewitness accounts, police documents, and testimonies from involved parties indicate a pattern of brutality, including sexual assaults and physical violence. The Greek government denies knowledge of these activities, heightening tensions surrounding border management and migrant rights.

Human Rights Abuses: Greek Police Allegedly Utilizing Migrants in Border Pushbacks

11 hours ago

Jessica Parkerand

Kostas Kallergis,Evros, Greece

An investigation has revealed that police in Greece may be recruiting migrants as mercenaries to forcibly push back others attempting to cross into the country from Turkey. Internal police documents show that high-ranking officials oversee this troubling practice.

Eyewitness accounts detail numerous incidents of brutality, with migrant witnesses reporting being subjected to beatings, theft, and sexual assaults. Testimonies suggest this system of pushbacks has been in place since at least 2020.

Despite the ongoing allegations, the Greek prime minister has denied any knowledge regarding the employment of migrants in these pushbacks and has not publicly addressed requests for further clarification from the media.

These pushbacks, which bypass due process, contradict international legal standards regarding the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers.

Previous reports had surfaced in 2022, citing the involvement of masked individuals in conducting these unlawful pushbacks using extreme tactics.

An investigation initiated last autumn looked into disturbing video footage indicating the abuse of migrants allegedly enforced by these mercenary forces, revealing a troubling cycle of violence along the Evros border region.

The situation is exacerbated by reports that mercenaries, many of whom are migrants themselves, are provided with incentives such as monetary rewards and easier passage through Greece, further complicating the dire circumstances at this border.

This perilous environment has seen Greece experiencing a significant influx of migrant arrivals, particularly since 2015, through both sea routes and land crossings, amidst increasing tensions regarding border security and humanitarian treatment.

The Evros region, marking the EU's external border, witnesses heavy militarization and surveillance, raising scrutiny over approaches to manage migration while ensuring the rights and dignity of individuals.

Increasing concern emerges as accounts indicate that the use of mercenaries for pushbacks is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of abuse, drawing attention to the urgent need for accountability and reform in migrant protection policies.