European border security agency Frontex’s director Fabrice Leggeri has been aware of systematic refugee “pushbacks” from Greece to Turkey in the Aegean Sea.
In a “Serious Incident Report”, Frontex officials have recorded incidents violating fundamental rights, incidents that implicate their own border officials, German Der Spiegel news website reported.
Spiegel said Leggeri was aware of at least one violation, accusing him of trying to cover up for Frontex.
A Frontex document shows Leggeri was informed on May 8 about some 30 refugees who were dragged from Greece into Turkish waters by Greek border guards on the night of April 18 – an incident observed by the EU border agency.
Results of an investigation released on October 23 by Lighthouse Reports, Bellingcat, Der Spiegel, ARD and Asahi TV revealed the border agency’s role in several pushbacks which experts say is likely illegal.
A video from a June incident allegedly showed a Frontex boat blocking a refugee boat.
Source: TRTWORLD
