BVMN)* Collected 44 Tes- Timonies, Accounting for the Experience of 1133 People Pushed Back Across Borders in the Balkans

Cover Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In February 2021, the Border Violence Monitoring Network Network (BVMN)* collected 44 testimonies, accounting for the experience of 1133 people pushed back across borders in the Balkans. This report highlights the latest trends related to migration policing, offering an eye-level analysis of violent borders all the way from Turkey to Italy. A particular feature of pushbacks during February was the use of urban policing as a means of capturing and initiating removals. This report analyses pushbacks started from inland cities in Albania and Hungary, showing how private accommodation sites are the target of violent raids which feed directly into cross-border pushbacks. Meanwhile, reception conditions in countries such as Serbia provide an adjoining analysis, showing the way the policing of urban spaces and internal transit represent an extension of border violence. Reports from last month depict a continually high level of police violence and physical deter- rence at transit points across the region. In Bosnia-Herzegovina, respondents reported being attacked by Croatian officers who had entered the territory illegally across the green border. Meanwhile, the fatal weaponization of the border landscape also continues, with a further drowning occurring on the Glina river which sits between the two countries. Within the broader context of adapted geography, this report also looks at fixed border installations like the fence in Evros, discussing the way Greek defences, and repression on the Turkish side of the border, are driving more precarious river crossings. Internal violence targeting people-on-the-move also persisted throughout February. A horrific attack carried out by members of the public in the Bosnian city of Bihać was the most alarming example of this, and illustrated the way types of violence are being broadcast to garner anti-immigrant sentiment. These overt incidents connect up with a web of other attacks and infringements, as seen with the systematic squat clearances carried out in February in the Una Sana Canton. This report also looks at the way mass evictions are a tool of internal bordering in Greece, seen in the recent targeting of asylum seeker accommodation. In line with the updates from the land route, the report also looks at the physical and structural violations being faced by people at maritime crossing points. Focus is given to both the situation in regards to Adriatic pushbacks, and the internal process of racial profiling on fer- ries leaving Samos to mainland Greece. Alongside this is a glossary of testimonies recorded in the last month and a critical update on criminalisation of activists in Trieste.

*BVMN is a network of watchdog organisations active in Greece and the Western Balkans including No Name Kitchen, Rigardu, Are You Syrious, Mobile Info Team, Disinfaux Collective, Josoor, [re:]ports Sarajevo, InfoKolpa, Centre for Peace Studies, Mare Liberum, IPSIA, Collective Aid and Fresh Response.

FEBRUARY REPORT 2 0 2 1

1 Back to Top TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Executive Summary 3 General 3 Reporting network 3 Methodology 3 Terminology 3 Abbreviations 4 Trends in Border Violence 4 Serious injury during Hungarian pushback 5 Mass expulsions from Durrës, Albania 6 Maritime removals to Patras 7 Border incursions near Izačić 8 Update on the Situation 8 Serbia Internal transit loops 9 Bosnia-Herzegovina Squat clearances and police violence Violent attack in Bihać 11 Croatia Drowning in the Glina river 12 Italy Activists in Trieste criminalised 12 Greece Evictions of accommodation across Greece Samos: Unlawful travel bans and racial profiling 14 Turkey Developments at the Greek-Turkish land border

15 Glossary of Reports, February 2021 17 Network Structure and Contact

2 Back to Top GENERAL

REPORTING NETWORK TERMINOLOGY BVMN is a collaborative project between The termpushback is a key component of multiple grassroots organisations and NGOs the situation that unfolded along the EU working along the Western Balkan Route and borders (Hungary and Croatia) with Serbia in Greece, documenting violations at borders 2016, after the closure of the Balkan route. directed towards people-on-the-move. The Push-back describes the informal expulsion members have a common websitedatabase , (without due process) of an individual or used as a platform to collate testimonies of group to another country. This lies in con- illegal pushbacks which are gathered trast to the term “deportation”, which is through interviews. conducted in a legal framework. Push-backs have become an important, if unofficial, part of the migration regime of EU countries and elsewhere.

METHODOLOGY ABBREVIATIONS The methodological process for these inter- BiH - Bosnia and Herzegovina views leverages the close social contact that HR - Croatia we have as independent volunteers with SRB - Serbia refugees and migrants to monitor push- SLO - Slovenia backs at multiple borders. When individuals ROM - Romania return with significant injuries or stories of HUN - Hungary abuse, one of our violence reporting volun- ITA - Italy teers will sit down with them to collect their BGR - Bulgaria testimony. Although the testimony collec- MNK - North Macedonia tion itself is typically with a group no larger GRK - Greece than five persons, the pushback groups TUR - Turkey which they represent can be as large as 50 EU - European Union persons. We have a standardised framework for our interview structure which blends the collection of hard data (dates, geo-locations, officer descriptions, photos of injuries/medical reports, etc.) with open nar- ratives of the abuse.

3 Back to Top TRENDS IN BORDER VIOLENCE SERIOUS INJURY DURING HUNGARIAN PUSHBACK

In February, BVMN members collected a tes- In this recent case, despite evading the first timony of a pushback involving a 23 year old raid, the Hungarian police reportedly came man from Iran who sustained a serious injury back two hours later, and escorted the re- to his leg during a police raid of the hotel spondent in an ambulance to Péterfy hospi- where he was staying in Budapest (see 1.2). tal. Upon arrival, and in the presence of a The respondent reported that he broke his translator, the respondent asked for asylum leg after jumping out of a window while try- and was told by the police officer: ing to avoid apprehension by the Hungarian police. Officers stormed the accommodation “there is no asylum in Hungary”. at midnight, detaining around 20 people-on- the-move during the process with the use of The respondent was then examined and kept physical violence. Unable to walk due to the in the ward for three days, under constant fall, the injured respondent managed to hide guard of two police officers who confiscated at the rear of the building, before returning his mobile devices. The respondent de- to his hotel room. Upon return he was forced scribed how the officers present were gate- by the staff to pay for another night and for keepers to his care, and the doctors in the the door lock broken by the officers during ward had to ask their permission every time the raid. they administered any medication. After these three days, he was told that he needed The raiding of hotels suspected of hosting surgery. When he stated that he did not have people-on-the-move seems to be an in- the financial means to cover the cost, he was creasing practice across the region, as ana- pushed back to Serbia the next morning and lysed in another section of this report re- made to pay for crutches on the way to the garding pushbacks from Albania. However, border. many specifics of the practice remain un- known and may vary across countries and lo- Pushbacks of people in need of medical care calities. In particular, it is unclear whether are not isolated events and have been docu- hotel owners and landlords cooperate di- mented by BVMN before, including thecase rectly with the police. What can be said is that of a Moroccan man who was sent back to these raids do bear many similarities to the Turkey through the Evros river while he had forms of aggressive urban policing used by large pieces of exposed metal bolted in his border agencies across Europe in order to ar- leg and was in need of further surgery. These rest, detain and remove undocumented peo- reports raise questions about the role of ple. While this urban aspect of pushbacks has other civil institutions and societal actors in not been previously explored in depth, re- the border regime. In particular, the invasion search into fatalities caused by authorities of medical spaces is of grave concern be- carrying out formal deportations, such as the cause it may prompt vulnerable populations UK Border Force, show similar levels of severe to no longer seek life-saving medical sup- injury and death - with multiple incidents of port. Combined with the attacks on hotels, people jumping from windows or committing the transit landscape and access to support suicide in order to evade capture and depor- is increasingly weighted against people-on- tation. the-move.

4 Back to Top MASS EXPULSIONS FROM DURRËS, ALBANIA In February, BVMN also documented an the hotel as a hosting space, and that prior emerging trend of hotel raids by the Albanian interventions had been made to remove cer- police, resulting in the pushback of groups to tain people-on-the-move seen as disruptive. Greece. Based on multiple testimonies (see Another respondent also alleged that the 8.1, 8.2,&8.3) involving approximately 200 owner of the hotel was in direct contact with people, these events occurred in Durrës, a the police, though as with the cases in Hun- port city in western Albania. The cases evi- gary this link is uncorroborated. dence a strong pattern: at dawn, Albanian police arrive at the hotel, all people-on-the- What is explicitly clear, is the violent outcome move are cleared from the building, they are of the raids. Groups removed from Durrës re- placed into vans, brought to an informal site port being driven to mountainous areas on on the Greek-Albanian border and pushed the Greek-Albanian border and pushed back. back. One group of eight people ejected in this way described trekking through the snow in T- The location at the centre of this practice, re- shirts for three days, after being abandoned ferred to as the “Atlin Hotel”, appears to pro- by Albanian officers. As BVMN has previously vide low-cost lodging to people-on-the- explored in other border locations, this mim- move in the southern part of Durrës. Particu- ics a broader weaponisation of geography larly in the winter months, access to such against transit communities which places affordable shelter (reportedly a four-person them at direct risk of hypothermia. room costs €10.00 per night) is a vital life- line; offering warmth, electricity, and washing Violence punctuates every part of these inci- facilities. dents: whether it be the unannounced police raids, collective expulsion at the green bor- But in recent weeks this seemingly safe space der, or the long return journey within Greece has been upended. During the evictions, Al- without proper clothing. Perhaps most dis- banian police officers assemble in large num- couraging is the destabilisation of supposed bers and ready vans to load the hotel guests, spaces of respite (such as hotels/private ac- alluding to the premeditated nature of the commodation), yet another example of the operations. The police then seize people-on- extension of pushbacks from the immediate the-move staying inside, rushing their exit border area into the urban interior. Interro- and denying them time to gather their winter gating these alterations in civilian architec- clothing, sleeping bags, money and even ture, and their growing role in policing and passports. surveillance, is key to understanding the way pushbacks interlock with other spheres of The catalyst for these acts remains unclear, policing and repression against people-on- though one respondent subject to a raid said the-move. local law enforcement were acutely aware of

Port of Durrës on the Adriatic coast (Source:Exit News)

5 Back to Top MARITIME REMOVALS TO PATRAS

In Patras, starting from the beginning of the pushbacks from the western port cities of new year, there have been some changes es- Greece to Turkey. Anecdotal evidence shared pecially regarding attempted border cross- by one minor states that in recent months, ings to Italy, the repression of these acts, and more people have been seized in the port of consequently also in the approach of transit Igoumenitsa and driven east across the Greek communities to this practice. In fact, since mainland to Turkey. It is also suggested that January, the number of people reaching Italy some people impacted in this process have has drastically decreased, with one 20 day also been subject to prior returns from Italy, window seeing only three successful cross- making these events lengthy chain push- ings. The cause of this is related to a resur- backs. The risk of apprehension and removal gence of the repressive tactics used inside to Turkey from the west of Greece has prece- the port by Greek authorities, which in turn dence, with a case fromMay 2020 detailing has generated a climate of general fear and the way people in Igoumenitsa were pushed insecurity. In some cases this has also led to back, even those with white cards. an increase in registrations or asylum requests within Greece by the transit community in Patras, prompted by a growing concern over the viability of crossings in the Adriatic. Even within the lull in crossings, a pushback from Bari to Patras was recorded in February (see7.1 ). The respondent, an Afghan minor, was able to disembark the “Superfast” ship he had boarded in Greece, but on arrival was stopped by Italian police in a park in the city of Bari. He was searched by officers and iden- tified by means of his white card issued in Greece. After this, the minor was detained in the police station for a short time, and forced to sign documents in Italian without the presence of a translator. Despite asking for asylum the respondent was ignored, and felt that the officers took advantage of his inabil- ity to speak English. In recent weeks, there has been a partial shift, with the later part of February seeing more people attempting and achieving crossings. Yet this outlook has also been tempered Superfast vessel docked on the Adriatic sea by the alleged continuation of deep interior (Source:BVMN)

6 Back to Top BORDER INCURSIONS NEAR IZAČIĆ

Despite increasing violence and pushbacks also showed armed officers chasing transit along the Croatian border, people-on-the- groups across the border, leading to an al- move in Bihać (BiH) still try to cross in search tercation with the BiH police. In an even more of a better life in the EU. On 21st February a overt transgression, the presence ofCroatian group were attempting such a journey, and police officers in civilian clothes was reported had stopped for a break in the forest close to in the area of Cazin. Despite the fact that the border area in Izačić, intending to wait for current law states that no foreign police offi- nightfall. At dusk they were startled by a cer, in an official vehicle, may enter BiH terri- gunshot and saw a dozen Croatian police tory unannounced, such incidents often oc- officers in black uniforms and balaclavas en- cur withlittle action taken against the tering Bosnian territory from three different Croatian authorities. points. The group, frightened by the gun- shots, fled back towards Bihać, leaving all In contrast to these earlier cases, the latest their personal belongings behind. According incursion of Croatian officers into Bosnian to the respondent the officers, whoʼs uni- territory marks a new escalation of pushback forms matched the description of Interventna practices. Rather than pushing people-on- division, captured two persons from the the-move into Bosnian territory, it appears group before they could escape and beat that Croatian authorities carried out a “pre- them inside of Croatian territory. The re- emptive” pushback. In the process, HR police spondent stated that the two people had re- not only violated Bosnian territory before any turned to their squat in the following days, border crossing had taken place, but they, in and bore serious physical injuries from the a bitter irony, appeared to have brought peo- ultimate pushback. ple-on-the-move into Croatian territory in order to physically harm them before push- This is not the first time that there have been ing them back. The practice of the Croatian incidents where Croatian police have made police to selectively enforce and ignore bor- incursions into Bosnian territory. In 2019, der ʻrulesʼ in order to facilitate the EUʼ exclu- local citizens of the Poljana area reported sionary regime, often in blatant violation of Croatian officersfiring guns across the bor- international law, is a clear sign that these der while chasing a group of 27 people-on- rules primarily serve to reinforce existing the-move. ABVMN report, which corrobo- power structures. rated an investigation bynews portal Zurnal,

7 Back to Top UPDATE ON THE SITUATION SERBIA INTERNAL TRANSIT LOOPS

Luke Ćelović Park in Belgrade (Source:zvucnamapabeograda ) It is not hard to spot who, among the people- In the intervening period, people take what on-the-move who gather in Park Luke rest they can in improvised shelters around Ćelovića in Belgrade, Serbia, has recently the city. A large number of the transit groups come back from the Romanian border. Some in Park Luke, and around the bus station of have walked for 24-36 hours, their shoes are Belgrade, prefer to stay out of official camps. worn away, and their trousers are covered in Most of them defer to squats around the mud. Others return to Belgrade with taxis park, or even under bridges, for the few days that were waiting for them in Serbian towns that are necessary to recover the inventory of along the border and charge extortionate items stolen or destroyed by the Romanian amounts of money for a ride back to the city. police. Few have jackets, as the Romanian police often take them and even burn them (see2.1 ), before pushing them back to Serbia. All show This turn-around is not quick, however, for signs of exhaustion and fatigue. people that suffered injuries at the border - often causing lasting damage to their mobil- No matter how traumatic the pushback they ity. Unfortunately, it is not rare to see broken were subject to, the goal remains to recuper- feet or leg injuries, which force people into ate as fast as possible and return to the bor- extended stays in Belgrade. With extremely der again. Among other things, this involves narrow access to healthcare, recovery is often obtaining a jacket and an appropriate pair of only partial, and longer and more painful shoes, as well as a phone (for those who can than it should be. Material deprivation, lack afford it). Those with the means to do so may of adequate accommodation, barriers to in- try the “game” twice a week. Making the ternal transit and lack of medical support all process of pushbacks all the more cyclical form contours of the slow violence of push- and draining. backs, which makes itself felt long after the incident.

8 Back to Top BOSNIA-HERZEGONIVA SQUAT CLEARANCES AND POLICE VIOLENCE At sunrise on 24 February, in Bihać, another camp Lipa are no better than in the squats. large eviction took place by local special The camp is overcrowded, many tents lack forces in coordination with the Service for beds and the meals provided are insufficient. Foreign Affairs of BiH (SFA). Special Forces In terms of sanitary conditions there is also a officers went to two abandoned buildings, major deficit, with only a dozen chemical toi- known as “Krajina Metal” and the “Dom Pen- lets for more than a thousand people. But sioniera”, with black vans, police jeeps and aside from the poor amenities, the camp also five buses, removing hundreds of people who embodies a lack of autonomy that leads many had been using them as temporary shelter. to reside in squats - not least to avoid the About 200 people were transferred to camp control of access, space and resources by the Lipa, which since the fire in December, has SFA and police. now come under direct management of the SFA. Those taken to Lipa in late February were held in an area near the SFA office, while Una Sana Canton (USC) police spokesperson, some were registered for camp ID cards. But Ale Šiljdedić, stated that the relocation to by late morning on the same day, most had Lipa was action was taken to ensure better taken the road to Bihać and returned to the living conditions for the transit community squats. However, observers noted that in the forced to live in dilapidated structures. aftermath, a significant rise in controls had Šiljdedić added that people will be housed at been implemented. For instance, the aban- the Lipa camp "where they are provided with doned factory of Krajina Metal, was con- hot meals, clothes and shoes, and living con- trolled for days by local police and Special ditions in heated areas, medical care and Forces who prevented journalists, humani- personal hygiene areas". But conditions in tarian organisations and activists from enter- ing.

Special police evicting people from Dom Pensioniera in central Bihać (Source:Altreconomia)

9 Back to Top While the scale of these evictions was signifi- the minor, the officers denied the support cant, they are neither new nor isolated inci- and shouted “We will finish you!”, while dents. Across the border area, people-on- pointing handguns at the group. the-move face continual pressure on their access to shelter, with many cases of police The inhabitants were then ordered to un- violence occurring during raids on aban- dress and lay down on the floor, with their doned buildings. One incident recorded by hands folded behind their heads. Lying in BVMN from 21st January illustrates these this position, the police started beating them abuses. A group of 17 men and one minor on the back with fists and batons. While (from Yemen and Morocco) were waiting in beating and insulting the people on the floor, an abandoned house in the border area, rest- the respondent said that the police officers ing before continuing onto Croatia. Sud- were dancing and singing, deriving enjoy- denly, two police cars arrived, carrying two ment from the situation. Bosnian officers in dark uniforms and two plain clothes officers. The officers ordered “After the police were gone, we laid the inhabitants of the house to each pay 50 there for 15 more minutes without €, before stealing their power banks and moving because we were so afraid that phones – the good ones the police put into if we started moving, they would come their own pockets, the bad ones they destroyed. The officers also searched the peo- back at us and punish us for moving”. ple for weapons and found one nail clipper These incidents show that eviction practices owned by the minor. The respondent de- are not meant to provide vulnerable popula- scribed how the officers punished him for tions with more sustainable living arrange- having this “weapon” by beating him to the ments, but are better understood as violence point where he reportedly lost conscious- designed to make life unbearable for people- ness. When his companions asked to assist on-the-move.

VIOLENT ATTACK IN BIHAĆ

On 10th February 2021, two men were bru- ina. InMay 2020 in Serbia, a man drove his tally attacked in Bihać by a local group whose car into a migrant reception center in Obren- members claimed to be “taking revenge” for ovac (Belgrade), filming himself live on face- a clash that had occurred earlier between book while shouting racist messages against members of the transit community and local people-on-the-move. In addition, these in- people. Alvir Gverić was among the local cidents of internal violence by the public people involved in the prior fight, and his need to be understood in the context of the brother, Mirhad Gverić, was alleged to have systemic violence exhibited by authorities been looking for “justice” when he led a against people-on-the-move both within group of others in this horrific ambush. Ac- countries and in border areas. Such behavior cording to the investigators, Mirhad Gverić by authorities serves to legitimize vigilante already had a criminal record, having been actions. As stated byTransbalkanska Soli- previously convicted and prosecuted for “vi- darnost, it is a serious and continuous con- olent behavior,” and “attempts to smuggle cern for human rights and justice that: migrants.” "[n]o person registered on the Una- In a video taken by the aggressors and de- Sana Canton territory, but also in other scribed in thearticle by Istraga, it is possible parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has to identify “at least five people beating two been punished so far for violence migrants, who are begging for help, with their fists, legs and batons.” “ʻYou're going to against migrants. Does this mean that beat our children,ʼ the man said,” while the authorities support the violence recording one of the victims lying on the against migrants?" ground. The performative nature of this incident stands out, as it was recorded with phones and later posted on social media by the attackers themselves,with the message: "those who defend migrants in public should see this.” Demonstrative acts of extreme violence like this are not restricted to Bosnia-Herzegov-

10 Back to Top CROATIA DROWNING IN THE GLINA RIVER

The Glina river bordering HR and BiH (Source:Total Croatia News)

On 14th February 2021, the body of a Turk- paths, prompting many transit groups to ish person was found in the river Glina, which ford rivers rather than cross bridges, even if marks part of the border between Croatia members of the groups are unable to swim. and BiH. As Total Croatia News reports, the In addition, the frequent removal and burn- man was among a transit group that at- ing of clothes by Croatian officials increases tempted to cross the Glina river two nights the risk of hypothermia and subsequent ill- earlier. Nighttime darkness made it difficult nesses for transit groups -- a risk that is ex- to gauge the waterʼs depth. In addition, ex- acerbated by winter temperatures. This latest tremely low temperatures may have contrib- death was not a tragic accident. It was caused uted to the manʼs death. His body was ulti- by the interaction of a hostile environment in mately found by Croatian officials and the BiH and brutal border practices by Croatian case was handed over to the State Prosecu- authorities. torʼs Office of BiH.

This tragic yet entirely preventable death needs to be seen in the context of the equally preventable disaster that is playing out in BiHʼs North-Western Una Sana Canton. Fol- lowing the closure of camp Bira in Bihać, the outbreak of a huge destructivefire in Lipa, and a wider deterioration of medical services and other support systems in USC, people- on-the-move have an ever narrowing tenure within the canton. For many, this means continuing attempts to cross the border with Croatia, despite the added challenges of winter. During and after the crossing, practices by Croatian authorities, especially the ever- present fear of pushbacks, are forcing people-on-the-move along ever more remote

11 Back to Top ITALY ACTIVISTS IN TRIESTE CRIMINALISED In Trieste, at dawn on the 23rd February Andrea, Lorena and Linea dʼOmbra, from all 2021, theItalian police broke into the home over Italy and the Balkans. With the same of Gian Andrea Franchi and Lorena Fornasir, charges, thousands of people who stand in which also acts as the headquarters of the solidarity with people-on-the-move could be Linea d'Ombra ODV association, which since investigated for simple gestures of assis- 2019 has been involved in supporting peo- tance. In fact, police raids against activists is ple-on-the-move arriving from the Balkan a growing phenomena, and was replicated on route. The officers notified Gian Andrea of the evening of 1st March, when four mem- the charge, aiding illegal immigration for bers of Mediterranea - the association that profit, which represents a baseless slur on owns theMare Jonio rescue boat - were also the work of Linea d'Ombra and part of a charged with aiding and abetting illegal im- wider trend of criminalisation of solidarity. migration. The authorities confiscated telephones, a In protest against the criminalization of soli- computer and a hard disk, as well as some of darity and in support of Gian Andrea and the the association's accounting books. The ac- four of the Mediterranea, the Linea dʼOmbra cusation centres on an episode dating back assemblylaunched a statement that collected to July 2019 where Gian Andrea helped an nearly 1,200 signatures in just four days. To- Iranian Kurdish family, who had already been gether with ASGI and Caterina Bove, ap- in Trieste, by welcoming them into his home pointed legal representative, the legal de- and helping them to withdraw money sent by fense of the Trieste based activist is currently relatives through the Western Union service. being prepared. As noted by Gian Andrea in a statement, this is primarily a political bat- The outrage felt after this slanderous attack tle, and not one based on upholding the law. has raised a wave of solidarity towards Gian

GREECE EVICTIONS OF ACCOMMODATION ACROSS GREECE With the end of theFiloxenia program, cupied the square, and were routinely at- through which the International Organisation tacked by police. In Athens, the Achillion Ho- for Migration (IOM) hosted asylum seekers/ tel was forcibly evicted, with police dragging refugees in Athens, Thessaloniki, and out those who refused to leave. Corinth,6,898 people are now at risk of eviction. Many of those accommodated within these structures are in the final stages of the The weekend of the 26th of February, several asylum process, waiting for their ID cards families slept again on Viktoria Square. As and travel documents. The process to obtain the number of families in the square grew such documents can take months if not from Friday to Sunday police presence and years, while making it more complicated for harassment increased, against both people- people to legally work, rent a flat, or obtain on-the-move and those expressing solidar- health insurance. Stuck in administrative ity. On Sunday night (28th February), the limbo, unable to leave Greece, and held back families were taken to Amygdaleza detention by structural failures that make it difficult to centre by the police. There is no legal basis integrate and be self-sufficient in Greece, the for their detention and no information has risk for street homelessness and further ex- been given on the duration they will be held. ploitation is dangerously high. They were not informed where they were going, and when the police were asked, they Towards the end of February, several IOM said the people would be taken to a camp, hotels in Thessaloniki and Athens were and would be given housing after. This has forcibly evicted. In Thessaloniki, people were not occurred to date. forced to board busses to go to Athens, and told in some cases by IOM staff togo “ to Vik- In addition to mass evictions by the IOM, toria Square [Athens] to protest'', alluding to smaller NGOs which provide housing are fol- a similar situation that occurred in the sum- lowing suit to evict people-on-the-move. mer of 2020, when hundreds of families oc- This appears to be partially due to increased

12 Back to Top pressure by the Greek Government on NGOs As the weather gets warmer and more evic- operating in the field of migration, and par- tions are planned and are carried out, there tially, it may reflect changes in the ap- is increasing concern that hundreds if not proaches of larger actors/institutional ap- thousands will be sleeping in the streets this proaches to migration and asylum in Greece. spring and summer.

People on the street in Corinth (Source:Popular Rally of Corinth)

SAMOS: UNLAWFUL TRAVEL BANS AND RACIAL PROFILING

Since the introduction of Covid-19 measures the tickets were not reimbursed when people in November 2020, travel restrictions have were unlawfully banned from leaving Samos. been imposed on the entire Greek territory. Despite these restrictions, Samos, contrarily It is important to note that there are no sim- to the rest of the Administrative District of ilar requirements for Greek nationals and EU Northern Aegean, had been explicitly ex- citizens. This differentiation of treatment by cluded from the travel ban, due to the ʻstate the authorities towards the refugee and mi- of emergencyʼ that has been in place since grant community constitutes direct discrimi- the 6.6 magnitude earthquake on 30th Octo- nation through racial profiling. This discrim- ber. ination violates individuals access to goods, services and rights and is unlawful under For Samos, this exemption means thatsup- bothGreek Law 4443/2016 and EU Council porting documents, such as proof of address, Directive 2000/43/EC. Racial profiling, as permanent residence or reason of travel, are exemplified by the unlawful travel bans im- not required to travel in and out of the island. posed on the refugee and migrant commu- However, there have been multiple incidents nity, also violates the right to equality before of unlawful travel bans imposed on individu- the law and protection against discrimina- als within the refugee and migrant commu- tion. Yet the practice continues to this day, in nity. People with refugee status who have the spite of the official complaints made by legal legal right to leave Samos and wish to travel actors on the island. to mainland Greece via ferry, have been forced by the Hellenic Coast Guard to show supporting documents when travelling, and eventually banned from boarding the ferry despite holding a valid ticket. Additionally,

13 Back to Top TURKEY DEVELOPMENTS AT THE GREEK-TURKISH LAND BORDER At the end of January, the construction of the fence at the land border had been thwarted new fence on the land border between Greece by Turkish forces. One group reported that and Turkey, initiallyannounced by the Greek they had successfully climbed the fence but government in August 2020, was completed. were apprehended by Greek soldiers shortly In October 2020, a government spokesper- after. In a new development, this group was sonspecified the barbed wire fence erected subsequently not detained (as in most cases), in 2012 was fortified with a new, higher fence but rather pushed back directly at the official erected behind the old one. This was done border crossing of Kastanies/Pazarkule. along a 10km stretch around the border crossing Kastanies/Pazarkule, where thou- Despite the erection of the new fence, cross- sands of people had been stranded inMarch ings have increased significantly over the 2020 following the dispute over the EU- course of the last month, which is believed to Turkey deal. In addition, a surveillance sys- be due to the warmer weather. Subsequently, tem, including thermal cameras, has now BVMNs field teams operating in the area have been installed. As yet, it is still unclear recorded a more than two-fold increase in whether the planned 26km long extension of pushbacks from Greece to Turkey. The use the fence has now been completed. Mean- of Evros/Meriç islands (see11.6 ), described while, the largest part of the 200km border in the November report, has been continually remains without a fence, divided geographi- present in testimonies from February. Mean- cally by the Evros/Meriç river. while the alleged involvement of Frontex personnel (see11.2 ) being present during While many groups report that the Turkish and involved in pushbacks in the area has border forces still do not prevent and often- been present in many testimonies collected times even facilitate crossings to Greece throughout February. This illustrates the along the Evros/Meriç river, several people- continuation of a trend which was increas- on-the-move have reported to BVMN mem- ingly documented in the last part of 2020 by ber Josoor that their attempt to climb the BVMN members.

Fence on the Greek-Turkish border (Source:Josoor)

14 Back to Top GLOSSARY OF REPORTS, AUGUST 2020 GLOSSARY OF REPORTS, FEBRUARY 2021

In February 2021, BVMN gathered testi- -10 pushbacks to Serbia (1 chain from monies of 44 pushbacks, impacting 1133 Slovenia, 2 from Croatia, 4 from Hungary, people-on-the-move. Those affected by and 3 from Romania) these incidents included men, women, chil- -18 pushbacks to Bosnia-Herzegovina (3 dren with guardians and unaccompanied chains from Slovenia, and 15 from Croatia) children. They also represent a wide demo- -7 pushbacks to Greece (1 from Italy, 3 from graphic, including people from Afghanistan, Albania, 1 from North Macedonia, and one Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Morocco, Tunisia, chain from Serbia) Algeria, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Kurdistan, So- -9 pushbacks to Turkey (all directly from malia and Chad. Greece)

LINK INCIDENT RECORDED GROUP DEMOGRAPHIC

HUNGARY TO SERBIA 1.1 4th February 5th February 8 Afghanistan 1.2 7th February 13th February 1 Morocco 1.3 17th February 20th February 2 Afghanistan 1.4 27th February 27th February 30 Afghanistan, Iran ROMANIA TO SERBIA 2.1 30th January 2nd February 10 Iran, Afghanistan 2.2 23rd January 31st January 17 Afghanistan, Pakistan 2.3 1st February 3rd February 18 Afghanistan SLOVENIA TO SERBIA 3.1 27th January 29th January 5 Afghanistan CROATIA TO SERBIA 4.1 3rd February 5th February 3 Afghanistan 4.2 4th February 5th February 3 Afghanistan SLOVENIA TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA 5.1 24th January 13th February 1 Morocco 5.2 6th January 2nd February 20 Bangladesh 5.3 6th February 23rd February 4 Morocco CROATIA TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA 6.1 9th February 18th February 7 Iran, Afghanistan 6.2 18th January 8th February 3 Iran 6.3 28th January 9th February 6 Afghanistan, Pakistan 6.4 30th January 3rd February 3 Morocco 6.5 2nd February 21st February 14 Afghanistan 6.6 2nd February 9th February 80 Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran 6.7 3rd February 17th February 2 Algeria 6.8 6th February 9th February 10 Afghanistan, Pakistan 6.9 7th February 9th February 5 Afghanistan, Pakistan

15 Back to Top LINK INCIDENT RECORDED GROUP DEMOGRAPHIC 6.10 9th February 10th February 6 Bangladesh 6.11 13th February 18th February 40 Afghanistan, Pakistan 6.12 15th February 16th February 4 Afghanistan, Pakistan 6.13 16th December 17th February 4 Morocco 6.14 4th November 20th February 4 Bangladesh 6.15 26th February 27th February 5 Afghanistan ITALY TO GREECE 7.1 14th February 17th February 1 Afghanistan ALBANIA TO GREECE 8.1 18th January 16th February 11 Syria, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia 8.2 19th February 25th February 40 Morocco, Algeria 8.3 20th February 3rd March 50 Palestine, Syria, Egypt, Alge- ria, Morocco SERBIA TO GREECE 9.1 15th June 3rd February 25 Morocco NORTH MACEDONIA TO GREECE 10.1 15th January 25th January 6 Tunisia 10.2 12th February 15th February 4 Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia GREECE TO TURKEY 11.1 27th January 9th February 4 Palestine, Somalia 11.2 4th February 5th February 60 Afghanistan, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, Morocco, Tunisia 11.3 5th February 10th February 100 Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia, So- malia, Chad 11.4 11th February 15th February 120 Syria, Algeria 11.5 12th February 13th February 17 Afghanistan, Palestine, Syria, Morocco, Algeria 11.6 16th February 17th February 50 Afghanistan, Syria, Morocco, Algeria, Sudan, Kurdistan 11.7 17th February 18th February 140 Afghanistan, Syria, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia 11.8 18th February 20th February 130 Syria, Iraq, Morocco, Algeria 11.9 18th February 19th February 60 Afghanistan, Syria, Morocco, Algeria FIND ALL REPORTS ON THE DATABASE HERE

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B O R D E R VIOLENCE MONITORI N G N E T W O R K

BVMN is based on the horizontal participation of member organisations in the field of documenta- tion, advocacy, media and litigation. The Network receives funds through charitable grants and do- nations from supporters. The funds primarily cover transport subsidies for volunteers in the field and staff costs. To follow more from the Border Violence Moni- toring Network, check out ourwebsite for the entire testimony archive, previous monthly reports and regular news pieces. To follow us on social media, find us on Twitter handle@Border_Vio- lence and on Facebook. For further information regarding this report or more on how to become involved please email us atmail@bordervio- lence.eu. For press and media requests please contact:[email protected]

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