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Federal police are said to have participated in a controversial operation against migrants
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Time and again, migrants have accidents on the way from Turkey to Greece, like here in November.
Quelle: AP / Argyris Mantikos
It has long been reported that the Greek coast guard is unscrupulous when it comes to repelling migrants. A German police ship is said to have been involved in a particularly explosive operation.
secondFederal police officers also participated in a controversial operation against migrants in the Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey. The “Spiegel” reported that the head of the EU border protection agency Frontex, Fabrice Leggeri, wrote to the EU Commission. “Mainz Report” could also view the internal report. The Federal Ministry of the Interior confirmed that German forces were on site for the deployment in question.
As the “Spiegel” reports, a Greek observation post discovered a rubber boat with migrants at sea on the morning of August 10, which was clearly already in Greek waters. The federal police boat “Uckermark” arrived a quarter of an hour later and found 40 people in the crowded rubber boat. The crew did not bring anyone on board, but instead waited for the Greek coast guard. That complied with the order, Frontex writes according to “Spiegel” in the internal report. The “Uckermark” had prevented the ship from continuing until the Greeks arrived.
According to “Spiegel”, a photo taken two hours later by the Turkish coast guard shows that 40 migrants were rescued from a rubber boat by the Turkish security forces. In the room there is a suspicion of an illegal expulsion in accordance with international law without prior examination, for example, an asylum application (rejection).
The Greek authorities, which Leggeri cites according to “Spiegel”, spoke of a “prevented entry”, the migrants had returned voluntarily. When Frontex inquired, the coast guard was said to have “taken border protection measures to prevent the arrival at Samos.”
The Federal Ministry of the Interior confirmed the general characteristics of the operation to the German Press Agency that requested it, as regards the Federal Police. The German forces acted as part of the Frontex Poseidon operation and were subordinate to the Greek authorities, a spokeswoman said. At his request, they went to the rubber boat and remained there until the coast guard arrived.
“German officials reported the events to the Greek authorities and Frontex in accordance with the regulations,” he said. “So far there is no reliable evidence or reliable knowledge that this issue can be seen as a supposed setback.” In two weeks time, the Frontex Board of Directors will take up the accusations of setbacks again.
The spokesman for human rights policy of the SPD parliamentary group, Frank Schwabe, asks the federal police to withdraw from the Aegean Sea: “The Germans cannot participate in the rejections, not even indirectly. And if Frontex cannot guarantee that, the German contingent must withdraw, ”he told“ Spiegel ”.
There have already been several reports that Greek border guards are pushing back inflatable boats with migrants on board in the Aegean Sea towards Turkey.
“Spiegel”, “Report Mainz” and other international media reported in October that Greek border guards were pushing back inflatables with migrants on board in the Aegean towards Turkey. They were based on information from those affected and on video recordings. Frontex officials were reported to have been close in several of these actions since April 2020.
In one case, a Frontex ship is said to have initially blocked a ship overloaded with migrants, but did not pick up the occupants. Instead, the officers passed the ship “at high speed” and left the scene. More videos can be seen of how the Greek coast guard then pushes the rubber boat towards Turkey. In another case, a Frontex surveillance plane is said to have flown over the scene.
German soldiers have also seen several times in the Aegean Sea how ships carrying immigrants are returned to Turkish waters on their way to Greece. According to information from the dpa, three incidents of this type were documented in June.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly accused Athens of allowing illegal refusals. Athens denies it.
