Damning report on Mitsotakis government from State Department for «black» 2022

It leaves the a multi-page report on Greece (43 pages) by the U.S. State Department, the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, with references to the wiretapping scandal, the Petsas list, and human rights in the country. The report is divided into separate chapters, such as respect for individual integrity, respect for freedoms, corruption and lack of transparency, discrimination, workers’ rights, as well as several subsections such as freedom of expression, detention conditions, police abuse of power, and gender-based violence, paints a very grim picture of Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s Greece on the international stage.

In the overwhelming majority of the Report’s categories, our country scores below the baseline, resembling more a third-world country than a modern European liberal democracy. The detailed State Department report is based on data, reports, and testimonies, highlighting the many issues that keep the level of human rights in Greece low.

The summary of the report highlights the dire situation in the country in many areas, as it cites credible reports on significant human rights issues such as: «cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment of prisoners, as well as of migrants and asylum seekers, by law enforcement authorities- restrictions on freedom of expression and the media, including the enforcement or threat of enforcement of laws on criminal defamation and libel- forced returns and alleged violence by government authorities against migrants and asylum seekers, inadequate investigation and accountability for gender-based violence, including domestic or intimate partner violence; crimes involving violence targeting members of national/racial/ethnic minority groups—and crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting lesbians, gay, bisexual, transgender, homosexual, or intersex individuals.»

It also notes that although the government took measures to investigate, prosecute and punish officials who committed human rights violations or were involved in corruption, whether in the security forces or elsewhere in the government, «There have been reports and complaints from nongovernmental organizations and international bodies regarding the government’s failure to effectively investigate allegations of abusive police practices and forced returnsasylum seekers, and to hold those found responsible accountable.».

Wiretapping

The State Department also devotes a significant portion of its report to wiretapping, an issue that has, in any case, been the subject of considerable media attention in the U.S. in recent months.  Specifically, it states that «the Constitution and the law prohibit such actions, but there have been reports of instances in which the government did not respect these prohibitions» and goes on to mention the surveillance of PASOK-KINAL President Nikos Androulakis and journalist Thanasis Koukakis.

«On April 11, the media claimed that the government used Predator spyware from July 21 to September 24, 2021, to monitor investigative journalist Thanasis Koukakis. Also, on July 26, Nikos Androulakis, leader of the center-left PASOK-KINAL, filed a complaint with the Supreme Court Prosecutor’s Office, claiming that he had found the Predator spyware on his cell phone.

According to media reports, his complaint sparked a closed-door debate in Parliament, during which the head of the National Intelligence Service admitted that Koukakis and Androulakis had been monitored. He denied that the Predator software had been used and maintained that the surveillance had been conducted legally with the appropriate court authorization. The government publicly denied that it had purchased or used the Predator surveillance software. On August 5, Prime Minister Mitsotakis accepted the resignations of his chief of staff and the head of the National Intelligence Service. On September 19, the government passed legislation requiring that any government intrusion into citizens» privacy be pre-approved by both a prosecutor and an appellate prosecutor. On December 9, the government passed legislation establishing a minimum prison sentence of two years for the use, sale, or distribution of spyware.”.

Police Violence and Arbitrariness

The report notes that «security forces engaged in abusive practices.» It cites reports of mistreatment and abuse by the Hellenic Police (ELAS) of racial and ethnic minorities, while there is a separate reference to the murder of the Roma man Kostas Fragoulis by officers of the DIAS unit in Thessaloniki. It also refers to the Ombudsman’s report on a series of complaints of police violence, while condemning the appalling conditions for prisoners in jails.

The report states: «Security forces engaged in certain abusive practices; regarding significant human rights issues, there were credible reports of harsh, inhuman, or degrading treatment of prisoners, migrants, and asylum seekers by law enforcement authorities,” while the same reports also cited “restrictions on freedom of expression and the media, including the imposition or threat of imposition of criminal laws on defamation and slander,” as well as “forced returns carried out with the use of force by government authorities against migrants and asylum seekers.”.

It was also noted that there was «insufficient investigation and accountability for gender-based violence, violence, including domestic violence, or crimes involving violence targeting members of national/racial/ethnic minorities, as well as crimes involving violence or the threat of violence targeting lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender, or intersex individuals».

«There have been reports and complaints from nongovernmental organizations and international organizations regarding the government’s failure to effectively investigate allegations of abusive actions, police practices, and forced returns of asylum seekers.».

Abuse of Migrants

The Report states that «The government did not consistently enforce the law regarding asylum. There have been reports that the authorities have pushed back or arrested asylum seekers attempting to enter the country, often physically abusing them or depriving them of food and water,» while adding that «there have been reports of physical abuse and violence by members of the Greek Police and Coast Guard against migrants and asylum seekers during pushback operations. On June 6, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants, Felipe González Morales, characterized the «pushbacks in Greece» a «de facto general policy.»

Appalling conditions in prisons

The report also refers to the conditions prevailing in Greek prisons, regarding which it notes: «On September 2, the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) published a report on its visit to the country in November 2021. The report highlighted the potential for inhuman and degrading treatment resulting from detainees being «left shivering in overcrowded and completely unsuitable conditions.».

Shortcomings in prisons and detention centers included overcrowding, inadequate sanitation facilities and access to health care, and an insufficient supply of basic necessities, such as cleaning supplies, cutlery, and dishes.

”Government statistics released in September showed that the prison population exceeded detention capacity,“ while the same chapter adds that "some migrants and asylum seekers detained by members of the Greek Police and Coast Guard claimed that the conditions of physical abuse or detention could be considered inhumaneand degrading treatment and punishment.”.

Restrictions on Freedom of Expression – Media

Following the wiretaps, the European Commission’s report is discussed at length, which «expressed concerns about the lack of transparency in the allocation of government advertising to the media, as well as about possible political influence in the appointment of members of the boards of public service media organizations. On September 21, the NGO Govwatch reported similar findings, highlighting the restrictions on freedom of expression resulting from the new «fake news» law and the lack of transparency in media funding,», the report states, adding:

«At the same time, in a report dated July 13, the European Commission expressed concern about journalists facing threats and attacks,», to return to the topic of wiretapping, writing:

«On October 24, investigative journalist Tasos Telloglou claimed that intelligence officials had been monitoring him and had collected data from his cell phone from May through August, allegedly because of his investigation into a wiretapping scandal. Three other journalists made similar allegations to the Committee for the Protection of Journalists: Theodoros Chondrogiannos, Thanasis Koukakis, and Eliza Triantafyllou.».

It cites complaints from NGOs regarding «news that is unwelcome to the government, including allegations of serious human rights violations,” which, “are not reported by many media outlets, thereby hindering the public’s access to information and informed participation in the news.».

Regarding the «freedoms of assembly and association,» it is noted that «Although the government generally respected these rights, there were certain restrictions.». Specifically, it states, «The police did not allow protest marches on at least two occasions. On May 14, the police refused to allow a group of Palestinians to demonstrate at the Israeli Embassy, even though the group had obtained the proper authorization. On July 22, police in the Exarchia neighborhood of Athens prevented feminist groups from holding an unannounced march to protest an attempted rape.».