Greece on Sunday described as "
false
" the accusations of a German NGO on the refoulement of migrants to Turkey, seeing them as a smear campaign orchestrated by the Ottoman state.
These accusations "
are part of a strategy of false rumors orchestrated by Turkey, through non-governmental organizations and smuggling networks
," Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi told the weekly To Vima.
"
The investigations carried out by the European Coast Guard (Frontex) and the Greek Coast Guard have not confirmed these accusations,
" he said.
A study published Friday by the German NGO Mare Liberum reported an "
unprecedented escalation
»In 2020 of the refoulements of migrants in the Aegean Sea involving Frontex, in violation of international law.
According to this study, more than 300 cases of refoulement to Turkey would have taken place between March and December 2020.
“
More than 9,000 people (trying to arrive in Greece) have been violently returned to Turkey and deprived of their right to asylum according to 321 documented incidents
”by the German NGO, which specifies having“
reconstructed the cases of victims on the basis for example of their testimonies
”.
Another NGO, Legal Center Lesvos, had also documented, via testimonies of survivors, 17 cases of collective expulsion, in a study published in early February.
Mr. Mitarachi stressed on Sunday that Greece's borders were guarded "
within the framework of international law and European values
".
Since coming to power in 2019, Greece's conservative government has decided to prioritize “
security
” at the external borders, adopting a strict policy on migration, while stepping up its control over NGO activity in Greece.
Mr. Mitarachi congratulated himself in January on the success of this policy.
"
2020 is a pivotal year (...) we have reduced the flow by 80% by applying an effective policy
", he declared.