Greece - January 2025

On 7 January, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that there were "strong indications" of a systematic practice of "pushbacks" of asylum seekers by Greek authorities, violating several aspects of the European Convention on Human Rights. This landmark decision marks the first time the ECHR has ruled on the country’s pushbacks, establishing a legal precedent and opening the door to both political and legal accountability to uphold the dignity, safety, and rights of those seeking asylum. The ECHR considered two cases, one of which involved an Afghan man and was rejected due to lack of evidence, and the other involved the pushback of a Turkish woman in 2019 without an assessment of the risks of her return. The Court ordered Greek authorities to pay the applicant EUR 20,000 in compensation. For over a decade, human rights organisations and international bodies have documented recurring pushbacks at the Greek border. Greek authorities denied the use of these practices.  

Sources: Euractiv, European Court of Human Rights,  eKathimerini, Human Rights Watch