Report & Newsletter Archive

1. Reports
2. Updates
3. Joint Publications
4. Webinars and Documentaries

Reports

• August 2023: A Pandemic of Abuses
• May 2023: Quarterly Report: January – March 2023
• February 2023: Quarterly Report: October – December 2022
• December 2022: Submission of Legal Centre Lesvos to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
• November 2022: Quarterly Report: July – September 2022
• August 2022: Quarterly Report: April – June 2022
• June 2022: Submission of Legal Centre Lesvos to the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders in Greece
• May 2022: Quarterly Report: January – March 2022
• January 2022: Quarterly Report: October – December 2021
• November 2021: Family reunification in Greece: A few hard wins among many bureaucratic and systemic obstacles
• October 2021: Quarterly Report: July – September 2021
• July 2021: Quarterly Report: April – June 2021
• April 2021: Quarterly Report: January – March 2021
• 1 February 2021, Crimes Against Humanity in the Aegean
• July 2020, Collective Expulsions in the Aegean Sea
• January 2020, Rights Violations and Resistance in Lesvos.

Updates

Please note: Many of our publications are also available in Greek, French and Castellano, by following the links below and scrolling down.

• 22 May 2023, New York Times’ Publication Demonstrates With Indisputable Evidence the Modus Operandi of Pushback Operations, Which the Greek Authorities Have Meticulously Been Trying to Hide for Years
• 3 May 2023:  08 May 2023, after almost 3 years of waiting, the smuggling trial of A.B. is scheduled to take place in Mytilene/ Lesvos
• 9 March 2023, Update on the trials of the Moria 6: Justice delayed is justice denied
• 17 February 2023, Press Release: We Demand Justice and Freedom for the Moria 6!/Απαιτούμε δικαιοσύνη και ελευθερία για τους 6 της Μόριας

• 17 January 2023, Press Release: Forensic reconstruction video released today, evincing the Greek authorities’ illegal expulsion of 200 migrants off the coast of Crete in 2020/ΤΟ ΒΙΝΤΕΟ ΑΠΟΤΥΠΩΣΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΑΠΑΡΑΣΤΑΣΗΣ ΠΟΥ ΔΙΝΕΤΑΙ ΣΗΜΕΡΑ ΣΤΗ ΔΗΜΟΣΙΟΤΗΤΑ ΚΑΤΑΔΕΙΚΝΥΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΠΑΡΑΝΟΜΗ ΕΠΑΝΑΠΡΟΩΘΗΣΗ 200 ΜΕΤΑΝΑΣΤΩΝ ΑΠΟ ΤΙΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΕΣ ΑΡΧΕΣ ΣΤΑ ΑΝΟΙΚΤΑ ΤΩΝ ΑΚΤΩΝ ΤΗΣ ΚΡΗΤΗΣ ΤΟ 2020

• 22 December 2022, Press Release: The Attempt to Silence Human Rights Defenders Continues, What Remains to be Decided is its Accompanying Measures/Η ΑΠΟΠΕΙΡΑ ΦΙΜΩΣΗΣ ΤΩΝ ΥΠΕΡΑΣΠΙΣΤΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΔΙΚΑΙΩΜΑΤΩΝ ΤΟΥ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΥ ΣΥΝΕΧΙΖΕΤΑΙ. ΔΕΝ ΕΧΟΥΝ ΑΚΟΜΗ ΑΠΟΦΑΣΙΣΤΕΊ ΟΙ ΟΡΟΙ ΠΟΥ ΘΑ ΤΗ ΣΥΝΟΔΕΥΟΥΝ

• 12 December 2022, Press Release: Delayed “justice” in appeal trial: Amir Zahiri and Akif Razuli will finally be freed!

• 26 October 2022, Komotini Court recognises LCL client’s status as minor, and orders his release from pre-trial detention in yet another smuggling case brought against an asylum seeker under Greece’ broad anti-smuggling legislation

• 5 August 2022, Over 2 years of systematic and widespread violent attacks against migrants in Greek seas carried out by the Hellenic Coast Guard and Frontex

• 7 June 2022, Another miscarriage of justice from Mytilene’s Courts: Guilty verdict confirmed for the two children arrested following the Moria fire

• 2 June 2022, Press Release: We demand justice and freedom for the Moria 6!

• 7 April 2022, Cruel and unjustified postponement of Amir and Razuli appeal trial

• 18 March 2022, Appeal trial against Amir and Razuli interrupted until 7 April 2022 after two days of waiting / Το Εφετείο κατά των Amir και Razuli διακόπηκε για τις 7 Απριλίου 2022 μετά από δύο μέρες αναμονής

• 4 March 2022, WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM ? 𝝩𝝞 𝝩𝝤𝝪𝝨 𝝨𝝪𝝢𝝚𝝗𝝜;

• 3 March 2022, Press release: Justice for Amir and Razuli!

• 23 February 2022, Prison quarantine and dangerous fires : Updates from the Lesvos RIC

• 22 December 2021, European Court of Human Rights to examine 32 cases filed against Greece concerning illegal collective expulsions / Το Ευρωπαϊκό Δικαστήριο Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων θα εξετάσει 32 υποθέσεις κατά της Ελλάδας σχετικά με παράνομες ομαδικές απελάσεις

• 14 September 2021, One year of Mavrovouni camp – THERE IS NOTHING MORE PERMANENT THAN THE TEMPORARY, ΟΥΔΈΝ ΜΟΝΙΜΌΤΕΡΟΝ ΤΟΥ ΠΡΟΣΩΡΙΝΟΎ

• 9 September 2021, One year after the Moria fires – NO LESSONS LEARNT AND NO RESPONSIBILITY TAKEN

• 26 August 2021, European Court of Human Rights recognises Greek authorities’ persistent disregard for migrants’ health and lives in Mavrovouni camp.

• 25 June 2021, ΔΗΛΩΣΗ ΤΩΝ ΣΥΝΗΓΟΡΩΝ ΥΠΕΡΑΣΠΙΣΗΣ ΤΩΝ ΤΕΣΣΑΡΩΝ ΚΑΤΗΓΟΡΟΥΜΕΝΩΝ ΓΙΑ ΤΟΝ ΕΜΠΡΗΣΜΟ ΤΗΣ ΜΟΡΙΑΣ / FREE THE MORIA 6: A STATEMENT FROM THE DEFENCE LAWYERS ON THE UNFAIR TRIAL OF FOUR OF THOSE ACCUSED OF THE MORIA FIRES.
  
• 8 June 2021, GREEK AUTHORITIES DECLARE TURKEY SAFE FOR AFGHAN, BANGLADESHI, SYRIAN, SOMALI AND PAKISTANI NATIONALS / ΟΙ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΈΣ ΑΡΧΈΣ ΚΗΡΎΣΣΟΥΝ ΤΗΝ ΤΟΥΡΚΊΑ ΑΣΦΑΛΉ ΓΙΑ ΤΟΥΣ ΥΠΗΚΌΟΥΣ ΑΦΓΑΝΙΣΤΆΝ, ΜΠΑΓΚΛΑΝΤΈΣ, ΣΎΡΙΟΥΣ, ΣΟΜΑΛΟΎΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΑΚΙΣΤΑΝΟΎΣ.
  
• 15 May 2021, Enough is enough: say no to EU policies and cooperation with Israel!
  
• 10 May 2021, Justice for K.S./ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΣΥΝΗ ΓΙΑ ΤΟΝ K.S.
  
• 26 April 2021, New case filed against Greece in European Court for massive pushback operation of over 180 migrants caught in storm near Crete / Άλλη μία προσφυγή στο Ευρωπαϊκό Δικαστήριο Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων εναντίον του Ελληνικού Κράτους επιδιώκει αποκατάσταση για μαζική επαναπροώθηση από τις Ελληνικές Αρχές στο Αιγαίο.
  
• 30 March 2021, Spring is the best time to tour Europe’s prison islands for migrants in a helicopter.
  
• 17– 20 March 2021, 5 YEARS OF VIOLENCE AND MISERY UNDER THE EU-TURKEY DEAL
  ◦ 1. Turkey is not a ‘Safe Third Country’
  ◦ 2. ‘Admissibility’
  ◦ 3. New ‘controlled’ camp in Lesvos and the ‘new’ EU Migration and Asylum Pact
  ◦ 4. Systematic pushbacks in the Aegean
  ◦ 5. Nowruz reminds us that a different world is possible – (فار, ENG, ΕΛΛ, سۆر, FR, عرب, KUR)

• 17– 20 March 2021, 5 ANS DE VIOLENCE ET DE MISERE OU “L’ACCORD UE-TURQUIE’
  • 1. La Turquie n’est pas un ‘Pays Tiers Sûr’
  • 2. « Admissibilité »
  • 3. Un nouveau camp “contrôlé” à Lesvos et le “nouveau” Pacte européen sur la migration et l’asile
  • 5. Norouz nous rappelle qu’un monde différent est possible. – (فار, ENG, ΕΛΛ, سۆر, FR, عرب, KUR)

• 17-20 March 2021, 5 ΧΡΌΝΙΑ ΒΊΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΔΥΣΤΥΧΊΑΣ ΑΠΌ ΤΗ ΣΥΜΦΩΝΊΑ ΕΕ-ΤΟΥΡΚΊΑΣ
  • 1. Η ΤΟΥΡΚΊΑ ΔΕΝ ΕΊΝΑΙ ΑΣΦΑΛΉΣ ΤΡΊΤΗ ΧΏΡΑ
  • 4. Συστηματικές επαναπροωθήσεις στο Αιγαίο
  • 5. Nowruz μας υπενθυμίζει ότι η ύπαρξη ενός διαφορετικού κόσμου είναι δυνατή – ένα κείμενο που γράφτηκε από τη Φατεμα, μέλος της ομάδας του ΛΣΛ – (فار, ENG, ΕΛΛ, سۆر, FR, عرب, KUR)

• 17 March 2021, GREEK GOVERNMENT INSTRUCTED BY EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS TO GUARANTEE RIGHTS OF 3 LCL CLIENTS: AN INDICTMENT OF RECEPTION CONDITIONS IN LESVOS
  
• 9 March 2021, Justice for the Moria 6 / Δικαιοσύνη στους 6 φυλακισμένους για τη φωτιά στη Μόρια
  
• 4 March 2021, GREEK GOVERNMENT INSTRUCTED BY EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS TO GUARANTEE LIVING CONDITIONS COMPATIBLE WITH ARTICLE 3 ECHR FOR LCL CLIENT A.J.
  
• 17 February 2021, GREEK AUTHORITIES MUST URGENTLY TRANSFER ‘VULNERABLE’ MIGRANTS TO THE MAINLAND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR OWN LAWS: LCL SUBMITS COMPLAINT TO GREEK OMBUDSMAN URGING ACTION ON BEHALF OF 21 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.
  
• 15 February 2021, The Legal Centre Lesvos and Front-Lex call upon FRONTEX to immediately suspend or terminate its activities in the Aegean Sea region / Legal Center Lesvos et Front-Lex demandent à FRONTEX de suspendre ou de mettre fin immédiatement à ses activités dans la mer Égée.
  
• 25 November 2020, While Europe struggles with second wave of COVID-19 infections, Greece rushes asylum seekers through procedures in Lesvos;
  
• 27 September 2020, Dire conditions in Lesvos’ new containment camp, while Greek authorities’ assault on those in solidarity with migrants continues;
  
• 23 September 2020, The Migration Pact: a “fresh start”?;
  
• 11 September 2020, No More Moria;
  
• 9 September 2020, Fire Destroys Much of Moria Camp, Following Four Years of European Tolerance of Fatal Risks to Migrants;
  
• 3 September 2020, Confirmation of Covid-19 in Moria Camp Leads to Immediate Transformation to a Closed Centre, Following Five Months of Deliberate Failure of European Member States to Respond to Foreseeable and Preventable Disaster;
  
• 18 August 2020, Despite the discriminatory lockdown on camps and hostility towards migrants and those in solidarity, resistance grows;
  
• 27 May 2020, Hostility towards migrants and those working to support them continues as state policy in Lesvos;
  
• 8 May 2020, Iraqi infant’s death at sea off coast of Lesvos unreported by Greek authorities, exposed by Al Jazeera;
  
• 28 April 2020, Authorities’ tolerance of fascist violence and brutality towards migrants in Lesvos continues, two years after Sapfous Square attack;
  
• 30 March 2020, Discriminatory restrictions on movement further contain migrants in unsanitary conditions – and at risk of COVID-19 outbreak;
  
• 19 March 2020, COVID-19 paves the way for mass detention of migrants;
  
• 13 March 2020, No Man’s Land for Europe’s “Undesirables”;
  
• 5 March 2020, Illegal and Immoral: European border priorities become policy;
  
• 27 February 2020, Riot police recalled from Lesvos and Chios, following demonstrations against new detention sites;
  
• 25 February 2020, Demonstrations against the construction of new detention centres in Lesvos and Chios;
  
• 19 January 2020, Call for accountability: Apparent Suicide in Moria Detention Centre followed failure by Greek State to provide obligated care.

Joint Publications

• 18 July 2023, NGOs call on Member States and European Parliament; Go no lower: reject the use of legal loopholes in EU asylum law reforms
• 21 June 2023, JOINT STATEMENT ON THE SHUTDOWN OF THE GREEK ASYLUM SERVICE: Database Leaves People Unable to Claim Asylum and In Limbo
• 21 June 2023, No Monitoring of Fundamental Rights Violations in Greece Without Independent and Effective Mechanisms
• 20 June 2023, Up to 600 People Drown off Pylos – Only Days After EU Leaders Agreed to Further Erode the Right to Asylum / An Open Letter
• 20 June 2023, Pylos Shipwreck: Yet Another Tragedy – Consequences of Deterrence Policies / Joint Statement* from Campaign for the Access to Asylum
• 20 June 2023, Forced Food Insecurity at the Lesvos Closed Controlled Access Center – A Joint NGO Open Letter
• 18 March 2023: Joint Declaration on the 7th Year of the EU-Turkey Statement
• 19 December 2022: Witch-Hunt Against Human Rights Defenders in Complete Inversion of Reality/ΚΥΝΗΓΙ ΜΑΓΙΣΣΩΝ ΣΕ ΒΑΡΟΣ ΥΠΕΡΑΣΠΙΣΤΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΔΙΚΑΙΩΜΑΤΩΝ ΤΟΥ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΥ ΣΕ ΠΛΗΡΗ ΑΝΤΙΣΤΡΟΦΗ ΤΗΣ ΠΡΑΓΜΑΤΙΚΟΤΗΤΑΣ

• 29 November 2022, Lesvos: Iraqi asylum seeker facing more than 60 years for “boat driving” despite video proving otherwise/Λέσβος: Αιτών άσυλο από το Ιράκ, κινδυνεύει με πάνω από 60 χρόνια φυλάκισης για την κατηγορία «οδήγηση με βάρκα» παρά το γεγονός ότι υπάρχει βίντεο που αποδεικνύει το αντίθετο.

• 27 October 2022: European Commission dispels Greece’s designation of Türkiye as a “safe third country” for refugees – Repeal the national list of safe third countries/Καταρρίπτεται από την Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή ο χαρακτηρισμός της Τουρκίας ως «ασφαλούς τρίτης χώρας» για τους πρόσφυγες – Να καταργηθεί ο εθνικός κατάλογος ασφαλών τρίτων χωρών

• 8 July 2022, Urgent Letter Nº 3: From Palestine to San Antonio, from Melilla to the Polish border – United for a World without Walls
• 29 August 2022, Joint Letter on the Situation for LGBTQI+ Asylum Seekers in Greece/ Κοινή επιστολή για την κατάσταση των ΛΟΑΤΚι+ αιτούντων άσυλο στην Ελλάδα.
• 6 July 2022, Undocumented children, children in danger, until when?…
• 16 May 2022, May 19: Trial in Kalamata – Criminalization against people on the move in Greece continues!

• 7 April 2022, National Transparency Authority should publish the full investigation regarding pushbacks in accordance with the principle of transparency / Να δημοσιευθεί η έρευνα της Εθνικής Αρχής Διαφάνειας για τις επαναπροωθήσεις σε συμμόρφωση με την αρχή της διαφάνειας

• 8 March 2022, Joint civil society letter to Yvla Johansson, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, GREECE’S IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ‘SAFE THIRD COUNTRY’ CONCEPT IS VIOLATING EU LAW AND MIGRANTS’ RIGHTS

• 2 March 2022, Press release by the Lesvos Legal Aid Sub-Working Group, Imposition of a fee of 100 euros for access to asylum from the 2nd and every following subsequent application to applicants for international protection, including minors! / Επιβολή παραβόλου ύψους 100 ευρώ για την πρόσβαση στο άσυλο από τη 2η και κάθε επόμενη μεταγενέστερη αίτηση στους/στις αιτούντες/ούσες διεθνούς προστασίας, συμπεριλαμβανομένων των ανηλίκων!

• 8 December 2021, Joint statement by 19 organisations active in Greece – On the rejection of RSA from the NGO registry / Κοινη δηλωση 19 οργανωσεων που δραστηριοποιουνται στο προσφυγικο – Σχετικα με την απορριψη του RSA απο το μητρωο ΜΚΟ.

• 18 October 2021, Εσυ δικαιουσαι να φας; Are your eligible to eat ?

• 13 October 2021, No room for complacency towards racist violence one year after the conviction of Golden Dawn /

• 9 September 2021, Μεταφέρθηκε στη Γερμανία η 27χρονη Μ.Μ. που είχε προσπαθήσει να θέσει τέλος στη ζωή της στο ΚΥΤ Μαυροβουνίου της Λέσβου

• 7 September 2021, ΑΦΓΑΝΙΣΤΑΝ: ΑΠΑΡΑΙΤΗΤΗ Η ΔΗΜΙΟΥΡΓΙΑ ΑΣΦΑΛΩΝ ΔΙΑΔΡΟΜΩΝ ΓΙΑ ΤΟΥΣ ΠΡΟΣΦΥΓΕΣ

• 14 June 2021, Greece deems Turkey “safe”, but refugees are not / “Ασφαλής” η Τουρκία, ανασφαλείς οι πρόσφυγες

• 22 April 2021, Νέο Σύμφωνο για τη Μετανάστευση και Άσυλο | Ερμηνεία διατάξεων στη νομολογία / New Pact on Migration and Asylum | Interpretation of provisions in Greek case law

• 30 March 2021, Κοινή δράση για δημιουργία πρωτοβουλίας οργανώσεων σχετικά με τις επαναπροωθήσεις / Joint Action for the creation of an initiative of organisations in relation to push-backs

• 10 March 2021, ΑΝΟΙΧΤΗ ΕΠΙΣΤΟΛΗ: «ΟΛΑ ΤΑ ΠΑΙΔΙΑ ΕΧΟΥΝ ΔΙΚΑΙΩΜΑ ΣΤΟ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟ, ΜΗΝ ΤΟΥΣ ΤΟ ΣΤΕΡΕΙΤΕ» / OPEN LETTER: “ALL CHILDREN HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO TO SCHOOL. DO NOT TAKE THAT AWAY FROM THEM”

• 9 March 2021, Δελτίο Τύπου σχετικά με την υπόθεση της M.M. – μιας 27χρονης γυναίκας που προσπάθησε να αυτοπυρποληθεί στο ΚΥΤ του Καρά Τεπέ στις 21 Φεβρουαρίου του 2021 / Press Release regarding the case of M.M. – a 27-year-old woman who attempted to self-immolate at the Kara Tepe camp of Lesvos on February 21, 2021

• 26 January 2021, Σταματήστε να παίζετε με τις ζωές ανθρώπων: επείγει η διασφάλιση της υγείας φιλοξενουμένων και εργαζομένων στο ΚΥΤ της Λέσβου

• 26 January 2021, The Workings of the Screening Regulation: Juxtaposing proposed EU rules with the Greek reception and identification procedure

• 9 November 2020, Stop Israeli Killer Drones: Non-renewal of CEiiA contract

• 30 October 2020, AN ATTACK ON SOLIDARITY AND SAFE ACCOMMODATION: THE FORCED CLOSURE OF PIKPA CAMP

• 13 October 2020, PROTECT DIGNITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS: CALL FOR SOLIDARITY GATHERING IN SUPPORT OF PIKPA, 14/10/2020

• 6 October 2020, HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS DEMAND THAT GREECE INVESTIGATE PUSHBACKS AND VIOLENCE AT ITS BORDERS

• 17 September 2020, Press Release of Legal Organizations operating in Lesvos regarding the procedures concerning asylum seekers during the state of emergency that has been created

• September 2020, Fire in Moria Camp: Call for urgent evacuation and radical change

• 21 July 2020, Organisations in Greece, local and international health bodies warn: “discrimination does not protect against COVID-19”

• 7 May 2020, 20 Organizations and Lawyers call for voting against provisions that jeopardize fundamental rights of applicants for international protection

• 22 April 2020, Stop the use of Israeli drones for EU’s Anti-Migrant Policies

• 30 March 2020, No Israeli drones for EU’s Anti-Migrant Policies

• 25 March 2020, Protect the most vulnerable to ensure protection for everyone! ‘Restore legality to protect refugees and the society at large amidst the pandemic’

• 24 March 2020, Greece: Move Asylum Seekers, Migrants to Safety Immediate Hotspot Decongestion Needed to Address COVID-19

• 18 March 2020, Say No to Dirty Deals! Over 30 groups demand an end to EU-Turkey Deal

• 10 March 2020, Protect Our Laws and Humanity: Open Letter by 120 organisations

• 7 February 2020, Criminal complaint filed regarding the death of a 31-year-old Iranian national at the Pre-Removal Detention Centre of Moria

Webinars and Documentaries

• 8 July 2023, speaker in “Curs d’Estiu 2023: LORRAINE LEETE – La NECROPOLÍTICA migratòria de la UNIÓ EUROPEA“, organized by UNIPAU – Universitat Internacional de la Pau
• 19 June 2023, speaker in “Von Moria Zu ‘Closed Controlled Access Center‘”, organized by Medico International
• 20 May 2023, speaker in “Organizing Against Fortress Europe“, organized by Dublin Anarchist Bookfair Panel
• 14 December 2022, speakers in “Halftime Show“, organized by Roger Rekless within the #StrongerTogether Campaign of Leave Noone Behind;
• 29 October 2022, panelist in “Criminalization of Facilitation at the Borders of EU“, organized by Viadrina Center, B/orders in Motion, moderated by Dr. Latife Akyüz EUV;
• 23 January 2021, panelist in “Pushbacks on the Greek-Turkish border“, organised by Mediterranea Saving Humans;
• 25 November 2020, panelist in “Dismantling asylum: the EU Migration Pact viewed from Greece and Italy“, organised by Goldsmiths, University of London;
• 10 November 2020, panelist in “The EU-Israel Nexus: Militarization, Migration, Apartheid”, organised by World Without Walls – Europe;
• 24 October 2020, panelist in “Hostile Environments Conference: Unlawful pushbacks in the Mediterannean and the English Channel“, organised by European Lawyers for Democracy and Human Rights and the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers;
• 24 October 2020: the Legal Centre contributed testimony to the Permanent People’s Tribunal – Berlin, on the necropolitical violence inflicted on migrants throughout the EU. Watch our contribution here;
• 14 October 2020, panelist in “Fires in Moria – law, migratory policies and asylum in Lesvos“, organized by the Centre on Law and Social Transformation;
• 23 September 2020, panelist in webinar, “Hearing zum Migtations- und Asylpakt” organized by Cornelia Ernst of the Left Party, Member of the European Parliament from Germany;
• 22 June 2020, Contribution to webinar, “Routes of Solidarity. The European Border Regime, the Balkans and connecting resistances,” organised by Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung office in Greece and South-east-Europe;
• 27 March 2020, Redfish, “Lesbos Refugee Camp: The Crisis at the EU Border”, featuring Lorraine Leete of the Legal Centre Lesvos.

LCL publications by date: