Greece's Coast Guard denies media allegations of mistreatment, abandoning of refugees

Gazzetta team
Greece's Coast Guard denies media allegations of mistreatment, abandoning of refugees
The Greek coast guard on Wednesday rejected press reports claiming that some of its officers were mistreating, pushing back or abandoning refugees as the number of arrivals into the country, mainly from the islands, has been increasing exponentially in the past few months.

"The operation of the Coast Guard is carried out with full respect to every principle of national and international laws in the sea and the country’s sea borders and always within the framework of international law,” the body said in a press release, adding however that any reported incidents will be investigated.

"Allegations of ‘abuse’, ‘pushbacks’ and ‘abandonment’ against people who are in danger are taken seriously and are examined, considering that the alleged actions are not in any way part of the operation practices of the officers … and are blatantly against the orders and instructions of the Coast Guard leadership,” it added.