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EU border agency investigates 'pushback' claims

German media, Frontex implicated in incidents in Greek waters

27 October, 13:37
(ANSA-AFP) - WARSAW, 27 OTT - Europe's border security agency Frontex said Tuesday it had opened an internal inquiry over media reports that it was involved in illegal "pushbacks" of asylum seekers.

"We are looking into the accusations levelled by several news organisations related to our activities at Greece's external borders," agency chief Fabrice Leggeri said in a statement. But the Warsaw-based agency said that "so far, no documents or other materials have been found to substantiate any accusations of violations". EU home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson also on Tuesday told German public radio Deutschlandfunk that any involvement in pushbacks would be "completely unacceptable".

"The director of Frontex must take full responsibility, investigate these cases and present an answer to what really happened," she said. "Pushbacks" are incidents where refugees or asylum seekers are illegally returned across a border to a country where they could face persecution. Several media including Germany's Der Spiegel last week alleged that some Frontex officials were implicated in pushbacks carried out by Greek border guards at sea. (ANSA-AFP).

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