The Dutch journalist Ingeborg Beugel, who lives and works in Greece, is leaving that country indefinitely because she feels threatened. This is the result of critical questions that Beugel posed to Prime Minister Mitsotakis at a press conference last week about illegal ‘pushbacks’, the forcible return of migrants by Greek border guards.
Various media, aid organizations and international bodies, including the Council of Europe, have repeatedly noted that this is happening. At the beginning of October, the European Commission still ordered an investigation to, following new allegations by, among others, the Dutch TV program Pointer. Greece and Croatia have pledged to carry out such an investigation.
But Greece denies that there are ‘pushbacks’. “If you ask about it, you always get the same answer,” says correspondent Conny Keessen. “Politicians invariably say that they are busy guarding the Greek and European borders and that they are in compliance with international treaties.”
Beugel accused Mitsotakis, who had just met with outgoing Prime Minister Rutte, of lying about the pushbacks and asked him when he will stop:
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