Recent Interventions

31/12/2021 - Special report
- Special report 2021 on Returns of third country nationals

The small number of forced returns and the constant detention of third country nationals in police detention cells instead of Pre-removal centres, are stressed in the Greek Ombudsman’s Special report on Returns in 2021.
28/04/2021 - Special report
- Alleged pushbacks to Turkey of foreign nationals who had arrived in Greece seeking international protection

Interim report (updated up to 31 December 2020) An interim report on alleged illegal pushbacks of foreign nationals from Greece to Turkey, in the area of Evros river was publicised by the Ombudsman, on April 28, 2021. The report provides a brief, concise overview of the Ombudsman’s own-initiative inquiry from June 2017 through the end of 2020. It presents key aspects of the reported incidents, records the handling of the allegations by the Greek authorities and makes proposals, in the direction of shielding legality, enhancing transparency, and ensuring full respect for the principles of the rule of law. The interim report has already been sent to the Minister of Citizens’ Protection and the Chief of the Police.

The Greek Ombudsman Human Rights