Strasbourg Court rules Greece guilty of systematic pushbacks of asylum seekers

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled against Greece, finding the country guilty of systematically pushing back asylum seekers at its border.

In a landmark decision, the court ordered Greece to compensate a woman forcibly deported to Türkiye, despite her attempt to seek protection in the country.

First condemnation of pushbacks by Greece

In its ruling, the Strasbourg-based court concluded that Greek authorities engaged in systematic pushbacks of third-country nationals, particularly at the Evros border region.

The tribunal awarded €20,000 ($20.6K) in damages to the complainant, identified as ARE, citing evidence that she had been forcibly expelled and illegally detained before being sent back to Türkiye.

The ruling marks the first time Greece has been publicly condemned for such actions and the first instance of the court examining allegations of pushbacks by Greek authorities.

Campaigners praise landmark judgment

The Greek Council for Refugees (GCR), which represented the complainant, described the ruling as “a landmark judgment” and a step toward addressing widespread pushback practices. Marina Papamina, head of GCR’s legal unit, called it “a vindication for the thousands of victims who have denounced pushbacks by Greek authorities.”

Lefteris Papagiannakis, the director of GCR, hailed the decision as a ‘pilot case’ that sets a precedent for other complaints before the court. Rights groups, including Amnesty International, have described pushbacks as a ‘de facto border policy’ by Greece.

Greek officials have consistently denied allegations of pushbacks, asserting compliance with international law and describing their migration policy as “strict but fair.”