Investigation Archives

Category / Investigation

28 / 08 / 2024

On Edge: Europe’s Farmers at a Mental Health Breaking Point

Up next

17 / 06 / 2024

Tracing the Path of Greece’s Plastic Waste

In collaboration with Greenpeace Greece and Basel Action Network, we put trackers on plastic waste from recycle bins and followed…

Investigation

02 / 05 / 2024

The “tradition” that kills thousands of turtle doves on Zakynthos

The government has expressed its intention to deal with the illegal hunting of the endangered European turtle dove in the Ionian Sea region − the unlawful practice has been an open secret for decades. But an investigation by Solomon documents the rampant dimensions of illegal poaching on Zakynthos. The Forestry Service remains understaffed, while internal records raise suspicions of a cover-up.

10 / 04 / 2024

How European countries wrongfully classify children seeking asylum as adults

Thousands of children seeking protection in Greece, Italy, and the UK have likely been registered as adults – a failure with serious consequences.

26 / 02 / 2024

“An Open Secret”: How Frontex and the European Commission turned a blind eye to violent pushbacks in Bulgaria’s bid to join Schengen

Internal documents obtained by Solomon, BIRN, Le Monde and Deutsche Welle reveal aggressive pushbacks, "disappearances" of unaccompanied children, and attacks by guard dogs at the Bulgarian border. The EU is well aware but considers the "excellent results" in Bulgaria’s border management.

01 / 12 / 2023

Dead refugees in the Balkans: bribes to find missing relatives

In comparison to 2015, today more asylum seekers are dying on the Balkan route. While relatives are forced to overcome state indifference to identify their loved ones, they are also forced to bribe authorities, even border guards, in the hope of finding them.

06 / 07 / 2023

Under the unwatchful eye of the authorities’ deactivated cameras: dying in the darkest depths of the Mediterranean

A collaborative investigation by Solomon, Forensis, The Guardian and ARD presents the most complete tracing, to date, of the course that the fishing vessel Adriana took until it ultimately sank, causing over 600 people to drown − while under the supervision of Greek and European authorities. A document reveals that according to Frontex recommendations, the Coast Guard vessel was obligated to record the operation on video.

15 / 06 / 2023

Just 0,07% of 819m border budget to Greece earmarked for Search and Rescue

As the European Commission chastises Greece for violent pushbacks and European officials express their grief over the deadly Pylos shipwreck, Greek authorities have been granted more than twice the amount of EU funding for border management from 2021 to 2027, compared to the previous grant.

12 / 05 / 2023

EU Details Violations at Greece’s ‘Model’ Refugee Camps

Internal EU documents show Greece’s ‘new generation’ of refugee camps struggle to provide accommodations in line with asylum standards.

29 / 04 / 2023

Surviving hell in Samos: Beaten, robbed, and pushed back from Greek ‘paradise’

Following a months-long investigation, Solomon has been able to locate and document for the first time the picturesque spot on the Greek island, where ten asylum seekers were detained, abused, and robbed by masked men before being cast adrift in the Aegean sea.

19 / 04 / 2023

Hawala: The bankers of irregular migration

The absence of legal migratory routes towards Europe has raised the importance of entrusted intermediaries that operate through the ‘hawala’ system and serve both as a bank for smugglers and as an insurer for migrants.