Solomon and BIRN look at how a Turkish businessman – convicted of fraud in Turkey in 2017 and arrested with a fake Greek passport in 2019 – bought his way to honorary Greek citizenship.
Accountability
Asylum Surveillance Systems Launched in Greece without Data Safeguards
With money from the EU’s pandemic-recovery fund, systems to monitor the movements of asylum seekers in Greece were designed and launched without basic data safeguards required under EU law.
Solomon’s reporter Stavros Malichudis under surveillance for “national security reasons”
In a closed-door Parliamentary meeting, the head of Greece’s National Intelligence Service reportedly confirmed that two journalists had been under surveillance, including Solomon’s Stavros Malichudis. A few months ago, Minister of State Giorgos Gerapetritis had repeatedly affirmed that “it is self-evident that there is no surveillance of journalists in Greece.”
Dark Waters of the Aegean: 1,018 illegal pushbacks carried out by the Greek state
It has become a common practice for Greek authorities to abandon asylum seekers at sea, which has resulted in injuries and drownings. An interactive map reveals the recurring crime committed across the Aegean Sea. The Greek government must explain how abducting people in need and abandoning them in life rafts is linked to international law and European values.
Serbia: Green waves washing over polluted land
Citizens’ growing concern fueled by industrial investments and the urgent need to solve environmental issues has resulted in the election of Serbia’s first Green Party to parliament.
Ukraine war: the “real” refugees and the lies of the Greek government
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Greek government ministers and MPs have spread false claims about refugees and international law. While experts, the UNHCR, and EU data refute their claims and more allegations are reported regarding Greece’s illegal pushbacks of asylum seekers.
UNHCR responds to Solomon over Mitarachi’s definition of “real” refugees
Greek minister of Migration Notis Mitarachi invokes international law to distinguish “real” from “non-real” refugees. The UNHCR’s response to Solomon refutes his allegations.
Solomon files complaint with Supreme Court in case against National Intelligence Agency
Last November, it was revealed that citizens, including a Solomon journalist, were under surveillance by the Greek National Intelligence Agency (EYP) – calling into question the legality of such actions. Now, by filing a legal complaint against EYP with the country’s highest court, we call for authorities to investigate the possibility that criminal offences may have been committed by officials of an agency which appears to operate without any accountability.
SLAPPs against Greek independent media Solomon and Reporters United
The NGO Hopeten served members and journalists of Solomon and Reporters United with a legal notice regarding questions we had asked them as part of our investigation. Below is the legal notice and our response – this is not their first attempt at hindering our research and reports before we even publish anything.