Allegations Surface: Greek Police Using Migrants for Border Pushbacks

Tue Apr 14 2026 20:15:08 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Investigations reveal alarming practices by Greek police, involving the recruitment of migrants to forcibly push back others across the Turkey border amidst allegations of violence and abuse.

A recent investigation by the BBC reveals that Greek police are reportedly recruiting migrants to forcibly push others back over the border with Turkey. The findings suggest a troubling pattern of violence and abuse, with witnesses alleging serious human rights violations occurring at the border. The Greek government has denied knowledge of these practices despite mounting evidence.

Allegations Surface: Greek Police Using Migrants for Border Pushbacks

Investigative reports have come to light indicating that Greek police have been forcibly recruiting migrants to push back other migrants across its land border with Turkey. The BBC has uncovered a range of evidence, including internal police documents, suggesting systematic abuse at the border.

The investigation describes how Greek border officials have been allegedly ordering and overseeing the recruitment of so-called mercenaries from among migrants, with reports of severe brutality including sexual assault, robbery, and physical violence against those seeking asylum.

Eyewitness accounts have detailed migrants being stripped of their belongings, beaten, and subjected to humiliating searches. These practices have reportedly been ongoing since at least 2020, raising serious legal and ethical concerns regarding their legitimacy under international law.

The Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, stated he was unaware of such actions, while official authorities have not adequately responded to requests for comment on these troubling allegations.

With a backdrop of over a million migrant arrivals since 2015, the Evros region, which has evolved into a heavily militarized border zone, has become a focal point for such encounters. Witnesses have described how mercenaries, believed to be migrants themselves, are incentivized with cash and mobile phones taken from those they push back.

As international scrutiny grows, the situation raises vital questions about the treatment of vulnerable individuals at the borders of Europe. Advocacy groups continue calling for accountability, urging for thorough investigations into these alleged human rights abuses.