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The investigation, using open sources, testimonies, videos and photographs, was conducted by the Bellingcat investigative journalism network, in collaboration with Der Spiegel, Lighthouse Reports, ARD and TV Asahi (from Japan).
The investigations “show for the first time that Frontex officials are aware of the illegal practices of the Greek Coast Guard and are, in part, involved in denials themselves,” according to Der Spiegel. Journalists claim to have documented six cases since April in the Aegean Sea in which Frontex teams at least witnessed without reacting to the attack by Turkish ships with refugees in Greek waters, an illegal practice, writes Agerpres.
„Such maneuvers to push back people violate the prohibition of collective deportation and international maritime law, “Dana Schmalz, an international law expert at the Max Planck Institute in Heidelberg, Germany, told Der Spiegel. The lawyer notes that Frontex staff is obliged to immediately rescue people in makeshift boats, especially when they are crowded. “If instead of doing this they increase their speed to make waves, then leave the scene and let the Greeks do the dirty work, they are still involved in these illegal maneuvers to get people back on the road. “, Susține Schmalz.
Compromising images with a Romanian ship
The acts of which the Romanian ships are accused took place in June and august this year in the Aegean Sea. Thus, Frontex personnel, including those on two Romanian ships patrolling at the time, appear to be directly involved in maneuvers to deter asylum seekers from reaching shore (the so-called “Illegal returns”).
Furthermore, Romanians appear to refuse to save people from drifting boats and intentionally endanger their lives through dangerous maneuvers.
According to testimony, the Romanian ship MAI 1102 was only a few hundred meters from a ship with refugees, but decided to do nothing, which blatantly contradicts the purpose of the European agency’s mission. The incident was allegedly filmed by Turkish border guards and reported by a German NATO ship to the Berlin government, but the report was never made public.
There is another video in which the ship MAI 1103 can be identified, a ship also belonging to the Romanian Border Police. According to the pictures, The ship blocks a ship with asylum seekers to reach the Greek coast.
The ship then intentionally increases its speed as the ship drifts past, a maneuver that creates waves and endangers the lives of those on board, after which they withdraw from the scene, leaving the Greek border guards to escape. deal with the situation.
UNHCR Romania reacts
Contacted by Free Europe, representatives of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Romania were very concerned that the Romanian authorities were carrying out such illegal practices within an international mission under the auspices of the European Union.
“UNHCR is deeply concerned by these images and testimonies that men, women and children may have been returned from Turkey after reaching Greek territory or in Greek territorial waters.” said Nisreen Rubaian, UNHCR representative in Romania.
“Our agency has repeatedly called on all parties involved to refrain from such practices and to investigate these reports. States must guarantee and protect the rights of those seeking international protection in accordance with national, European and international law.She added.
Frontex mission reaction
In turn, the Frontex mission did not pronounce on the cases reported by journalists, it mentions MirrorBut it said its agents operate under a human rights code of conduct and abide by the ban on rejecting migrant boats.
Without mentioning the press investigation, Frontex announced on Friday evening on its Twitter account that it is “in contact with the Greek authorities regarding incidents at sea in recent months” and announced that Athens has opened “an internal investigation. “. Frontex acts “in accordance with fundamental rights and international law,” the agency said on Twitter.
