Greece's Controversial Tactics: Masked Migrants Used in Border Pushbacks

Tue Apr 14 2026 20:34:08 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Alarming reports reveal that Greek police are allegedly utilizing migrants to forcibly push back others attempting to cross into Greece from Turkey, raising serious human rights concerns.

A troubling investigation has uncovered that Greek police might be recruiting masked migrants to assist in pushing back other migrants at the Turkish border. The allegations include claims of violence, robbery, and sexual assault, with witnesses sharing harrowing experiences. While the Greek Prime Minister denies knowledge of such practices, evidence suggests that these actions violate international law on the treatment of migrants, sparking outrage and demands for accountability.

Recent reports indicate that police in Greece have been allegedly using migrants to push others back across the border with Turkey, a practice that raises significant human rights issues. Evidence gathered by the BBC reveals a disturbing trend where so-called mercenaries, recruited from within vulnerable migrant populations, are being instructed to assist in these pushbacks.

Internal police documents suggest that senior officers ordered the recruitment of these migrants, leading to reports of extreme brutality. Witness accounts describe horrifying incidents of violence, including robbery, beatings, and sexual assaults against migrants by these masked individuals.

Despite these serious allegations, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated he was totally unaware of the situation, while Greek authorities have not issued any comments regarding the findings made public by the BBC.

Pushbacks, which force migrants back without due process, are widely regarded as illegal under international law. Previous reports from other organizations also indicated that such tactics have been ongoing since at least 2020, raising concerns about the treatment of over a million migrants who have arrived in Greece since the 2015 refugee crisis.

Eyewitness accounts and testimony from both migrants and former mercenaries highlight the severe conditions faced at the Evros River border area, where individuals are often assaulted and denied basic rights before being sent back to Turkey. The humanitarian crisis at the border continues to escalate, drawing attention from human rights organizations across the globe.