What the Ministry for Citizen Protection says in response to a BBC report on pushbacks at land borders

As the ministry points out, first of all, the published allegations relate to claims regarding incidents that took place during the caretaker government in 2023.

"Greek authorities have repeatedly addressed such allegations over the past few years with clarity and documentation," the same sources stressed, adding that such reports and articles are based primarily on testimonies and secondary evidence, which cannot be verified. The same sources noted that the assessment of this specific information is often based on the convergence of allegations rather than on evidence.

The same sources added that, in any case, such complaints are taken seriously, evaluated and investigated immediately and institutionally, in accordance with the applicable legal framework and the oversight and accountability mechanisms operating at national and European levels.

Officials from the Ministry of Citizen Protection also noted that managing migration flows is a complex challenge, particularly in areas under increased pressure, such as the European Union’s external borders. Greece, they emphasised, consistently meets this responsibility while adhering to both domestic laws and its international obligations. At the same time, the competent authorities remain at the disposal of any institutional body to provide information and assist in any process aimed at ensuring transparency and an objective presentation of the facts.