On 7 January, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that there were "strong indications" of a systematic practice of "pushbacks" of asylum seekers by Greek authorities, violating several aspects of the European Convention on Human Rights. This landmark decision marks the first time the ECHR has ruled on the country’s pushbacks, establishing a legal precedent and opening the door to both political and legal accountability to uphold the dignity, safety, and rights of those seeking asylum. The ECHR considered two cases, one of which involved an Afghan man and was rejected due to lack of evidence, and the other involved the pushback of a Turkish woman in 2019 without an assessment of the risks of her return. The Court ordered Greek authorities to pay the applicant EUR 20,000 in compensation. For over a decade, human rights organisations and international bodies have documented recurring pushbacks at the Greek border. Greek authorities denied the use of these practices.  

Sources: Euractiv, European Court of Human Rights,  eKathimerini, Human Rights Watch 

The Data Protection Authority of Greece has found that a file containing the personal email addresses and data of thousands of expatriate voters from the 2023 Greek national elections was leaked from the Interior Ministry to Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou, an MEP for the ruling New Democracy party. The Interior Ministry was fined EUR 400,000, and Asimakopoulou received a fine of EUR 40,000 for violating voter privacy. Investigations into New Democracy's involvement in the scandal are ongoing, and additional fines may be imposed. Asimakopoulou used the list to send mass campaign emails to Greek expatriates, promoting her re-election bid to the European Parliament on the same day the Interior Ministry sent a separate message to inform voters about postal voting procedures. Asimakopoulou, who previously served as vice-chair of the committee on international trade, has resigned.

Source: Data Protection Authority, Politico, Reuters

Update: On 21 October, the Personal Data Protection Authority issued a fine of EUR 30,000 to the ruling New Democracy party for its involvement in leaking voter records. Its former Secretary for Diaspora Affairs, Nikos Theodoropoulos, was fined an additional EUR 10,000 for leaking the data to Asimakopoulou. The party has sought to appeal the decision. 

Sources: Politico, Hellenic Data Protection Authority, Greek Reporter 

On 15 February, the Greek parliament passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage and granting same-sex couples the ability to adopt, and full parental rights to those with existing children. The bill doesn’t allow same-sex couples to pursue surrogacy, which is currently allowed only for women, single or married, who are unable to have children for health reasons. The bill received 176 votes in favor,76 against, and 31 abstentions. While several members of the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ centre-right party did not support the bill, it garnered enough support from the leftist opposition to pass. Greece is the first Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex marriage. The legalization of same-sex marriage is a divisive issue in Greece with especially strong opposition from the Orthodox Church.

Sources: Greek parliament, Reuters, Balkan Insight, Ekathimerini (1), Ekathimerini (2)

Police fatally shot an unarmed 17-year-old Roma boy in Boeotia after the driver reportedly evaded a traffic stop leading to a car chase. According to media reports, police related that one of the passengers attempted to steal the officer’s weapon, resulting in it discharging accidentally, whereas the victim’s brother present at the scene has accused the police officer of firing the gun. The officer has been suspended, and prosecutors have charged the officer with homicide and illegal use of a weapon. Greek law allows the use of firearms by police officers only if their safety, or the safety of a third party, is threatened, and prohibits the use of weapons against a person fleeing when called upon to stop. The incident follows previous police shootings of Roma teenagers in December 2022 and October 2021, sparking protests and riots. The killing has triggered debates about police brutality and the treatment of ethnic minorities. Protests have broken out, spearheaded by members of the Roma community, and the Panhellenic Confederation of Greek Roma (Ellan Passe) called on the state to tackle racism and intolerance in connection with the shooting.

Sources: European Roma Rights Centre, Ekathimerini, Al Jazeera (1), Al Jazeera (2), Balkan Insight, Ellan Passe, News 24/7, Civil Protection Ministry