The verdict of the Luxembourg judges was clear: if Hungary detains refugees in so-called transit zones, it is deprivation of liberty. Prime Minister Viktor Orban was not happy with the verdict - but now he is bowing to him.
Budapest (dpa) - Hungary's right-wing national government closes the two controversial transit camps for those seeking protection right on the border with Serbia. This was announced by Chancellor Minister Gergely Gulyas in Budapest.
The Central European country thus followed a judgment of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg on May 14th, which had rated the detention of four asylum seekers in the Röszke transit camp as illegal detention.
The approximately 280 people in the Röszke and Tompa camps had already been brought to various, mostly open facilities for asylum seekers on Thursday night, Gulyas said. The camps protected the borders of Hungary, he added. "The judgment of the ECJ is unfortunate, but after Hungary is obliged to adhere to it, there is nothing else to do but to close the transit zones."
Hungary, under its Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has been pursuing a policy of foreclosure and deterrence of refugees and migrants for years. The country has been holding asylum seekers in the two container warehouses for just over three years. The areas are surrounded by a high fence and barbed wire.
Hungary always argued that people were "voluntarily" there because they could leave the camps for Serbia. However, those who return to Serbia automatically lose their asylum seeker status in Hungary. The Luxembourg judges had determined that this was deprivation of liberty. Asylum seekers should only be detained if an order has previously been made stating the reasons for this.