Greece: Pushbacks, detention and violence towards migrants on Lesbos

Cruel deterrence tactics

Migrants and asylum seekers arriving to Lesbos are sent to two centres according to the location of arrival: Mavrovouni and Megala Therma. In Mavrovouni, one of several EU-funded Closed Controlled Access Centres (CCAC), up to 2,700 people have been accommodated in 2023. 

CCACs were marketed as an improvement in living conditions for migrants but were designed to severely restrict people’s movement and keep them contained in prison-like facilities. On 17 May, Greek authorities stopped providing food to recognised refugees and people who are denied international protection, announcing plans to evict . . .