Border Violence Monitoring Network
@Border_Violence
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Network of grassroots organizations documenting illegal pushbacks & police violence by EU member state authorities in the Western Balkans and Greece.
Balkan Route
Joined November 2018
1/4. Today, @EP_Justice was due to discuss a proposal for new rules "to prevent and counter the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and stay" in the EU. In our view, this proposal increases criminalisation of movement and solidarity. Here is why:
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We just published the report of the 2nd visit of our coordinator to Crete. Read it here:
Today, our criminalisation coordinator is back at the Appeals Court of Crete in Chania to monitor the trial proceedings of a number of individuals accused of so-called smuggling. We will be publishing updates as we obtain them.
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Before the start of the proceedings, a demonstration, called for by the Social Shelter of Migrants in Chania (Κοινωνικό Στέκι-Στέκι Μεταναστών Χανίων) was organised to demand the acquittal of all of the accused.
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Today, our criminalisation coordinator is back at the Appeals Court of Crete in Chania to monitor the trial proceedings of a number of individuals accused of so-called smuggling. We will be publishing updates as we obtain them.
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4/4. We call on the members of @EP_Justice, as well as the members of the @Europarl_EN at large, to oppose the criminalisation aspects of this proposal, which try to reinforce a securitised approach to migration. These measures must not be allowed to pass!.
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3/4. In our view, the development of this proposal mirrors similar legislation in Greece, which attempts to criminalise the broadcasting of information from court proceedings. In both instances, legislation is used to suppress solidarity under the guise of digital modernisation.
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2/4. The @EU_Commission's original proposal, which it published in late 2023, introduces a poorly defined criminal offense of "public instigation", which we believe could be used by EU Member states against humanitarian organisations that support people on the move.
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3/3. We found many shortcomings in the proceedings that jeopardise the principle of a fair trial:. > Inadequate representation: lawyers were assigned on the morning of.> No certified interpreters present.> Mass processing of cases with no individual assessment.
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2/3. Out of the 13 cases we monitored:. > Only 2 cases were heard.> 6 were postponed.> The rest were concluded via plea bargains
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1/3. We just published the report of the visit of our criminalisation coordinator to Crete, in Greece, to monitor the trials of 30 individuals accused of so-called smuggling. Read the report here, drafted jointly with @HIASGreece:
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10 years after the so-called long summer of migration, the deadliness of the EU's border regime is back in full swing. Alexandre Bovey from our Research and Investigations team tries to put a figure on the extent of the suffering this regime has brought.
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Read our policy brief to find out how this concept undermines the right to asylum and significantly increases the risks of indirect refoulement:.
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Member organisations @collective_aid, @mobileinfoteam, @lesboslegal, @IHaveRights_ and @VoiceInBulgaria are among 50+ signatories of a joint statement denouncing the concept of "Safe Third Country".
amnesty.eu
The EU’s recent proposals in the area of migration and asylum risk seriously undermining people’s access to fair and full asylum procedures in Europe. The European Commission’s recent initiatives...
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3/3. ❌ Updates from the French-Italian border. Big thank you to:.@IHaveRights_.@collective_aid.@mobileinfoteam.@blindspots_ev.@rigarduev.#PushBackAlarmAustria.@infopark4.@VoiceInBulgaria .#MissionWings.@lesboslegal.#WeAreMonitoring.@HumanRightsObs.#GlocalRoots.
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2/3. ❌ One Month On from Poland’s temporary suspension of asylum at the Belarusian border.❌ Evros region site overview and recent developments ❌ Reports of malnutrition in the Samos CCAC .❌ New report on Izmir Removal Center in Turkey shows rights violations continue.
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1/3 . 🟠 BVMN’s April report is now online. With contributions from our member organisations, partners and working groups, this edition covers, among other things:. ❌ Minors subject to violence during Croatian pushbacks to Bosnia-Herzegovina
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Member organisation @HumanRightsObs is looking for volunteers to join its violence monitoring operations in Calais. Fluency in French strongly recommended. Apply here:
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7/7. Our full statement, including with a version in Greek, is here:. And expect a more thorough legal brief with recommendations soon!.
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6/7. However, the application of the same article in only one case out of 4 before the Three-Member Felony Court of the Aegean raises concerns regarding legal certainty, as its interpretation varied across cases with similar characteristics.
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5/7. We note and support the consistent application of Art. 3 of Law 5038/2023—aligned with Art. 31 of the Geneva Convention—by the Single-Judge Appeals Court, which provides an exemption from criminalization for defendants who sought or intended to seek asylum in Greece.
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