On August 14, the New York Times published a report documenting the Greek government’s illegal measures to keep refugees and migrants away from its borders. Backed up by firsthand interviews with survivors, three independent watchdogs, two academic researchers, and the Turkish Coast Guard, the article claims that at least 1,072 asylum seekers have been pushed back into the water to fend for themselves. In at least thirty-one separate expulsions, migrants have been forced into the sea on sometimes leaky life rafts or left to drift in their boats, after Greek officials disabled the engines.

Such actions are illegal under international law. Even beyond the immediate danger they pose to human life, they contradict the principle of “non-refoulement,” which bans such pushbacks.  Before its election victory in July 2019, the right-wing New Democracy party had promised such a “tough” approach to migrants. But faced with press coverage of recent expulsions, the Greek government was keen to deny any accusation of illegality.

First was minister of migration and asylum Notis Mitarakis; he issued a statement declaring that “Greece implements a tough but fair migration policy and fully respects its obligations under international law.” Mitarakis cast doubt on the credibility of the Turkish Coast Guard as a source for such claims, adding that “interviews published by refugees currently residing in Turkey do not provide any evidence that those persons are at risk in Turkey and therefore can seek refugee status there.” In the same vein, speaking to CNN on August 22, prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis painted Greece as the victim of a misinformation campaign — part of Turkey’s efforts to “weaponise the migration issue.”