JOINT STATEMENT AGAINST THE TARGETING OF LEGAL NGOS BY THE GREEK MINISTRY OF MIGRATION
- hrlpsteeringcommit
- 6 days ago
- 1 min read
Together with 15 other Civil Society organizations, HRLP signed a join statement, raising the alarm on the targeting of civil society organizations by high-ranking Greek officials due to their provision of legal assistance and representation to refugees and asylum seekers in Greece.
Specifically, the letter refers to the recent comments of the Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum of Mr Thanos Plevris, on an order issued by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on 14 August 2025 indicating interim measures to the Greek government to refrain from removing eight Sudanese asylum seekers from Greek territory until their applications for interim relief before domestic courts are heard.
In his public statements, Mr Plevris explicitly targeted the NGOs who represented the defendants, declaring that the positions of NGOs are “utterly irrelevant” to the Ministry of Migration, and proceeded to intimidate civil society organizations with "administrative audits" and de-registration.
Addressing the Commissioner for Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, the Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration and the Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, all undersigned organizations call on the EU Commission to take immediate, concrete action to:
❖ Safeguard the work of civil society, legal professionals and human rights defenders in Greece against targeting, intimidation and arbitrary administrative treatment;
❖Ensure that the fundamental right to an effective remedy and to judicial protection is effectively guaranteed to persons under Greek jurisdiction, including persons facing detention and return proceedings;
❖Enforce the applicable acquis against severe infringements stemming from both the letter and the implementation of Article 79 L 5218/2025.
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