"This ruling is an important moment of accountability against the executives of companies that develop and sell dangerous surveillance technology.
Now the Greek judiciary needs to hold state officials accountable for ordering its use."
- @evacosse.bsky.social & @notzachcampbell.bsky.social
Just receiving news from my colleague @evacosse.bsky.social that a Court of Appeal in Athens has ruled once again that Golden Dawn is a criminal association and found 42 of its members guilty of violent crimes, including murder.
en.protothema.gr/2026/03/04/g...
Three years ago, at least 94 people, including 35 children, died near Italy in what is known as the Cutro shipwreck.
Humane and rational migration policies are possible, and there is now a rare chance for accountability.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/3OwsMud
Five UN Special Rapporteurs remind Greece that its laws should not capture humanitarian acts or stifle those defending human rights. It’s time to stop the criminalization of assistance.
Full UN letter📄here: spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBas...
Solidarity is not a crime, but Greece's new law treats it like one.
UN experts have issued a damning critique of legislation that codifies the harassment of civil society we've long documented at @hrw.org.
Read my latest dispatch: www.hrw.org/news/2026/02...
The acquittal of 24 humanitarian workers by a Lesbos court in Lesbos should have been a turning point in the Greek govt's assault on civil society. Instead, it has doubled down, @evacosse.bsky.social explains, with a surge in state-led intimidation of civil society
www.hrw.org/news/2026/02...
The adoption of the law is extremely worrying, but unsurprising. Disregard for human rights & attacks on human rights defenders have become cornerstones of Greek government policy in the field of migration. [2/2]
24.02.2026 11:31 — 👍 3 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
Now public: letter to #Greece on the new law on migration, outlining its incompatibility with international human rights law & its impact on people defending the rights of migrants. [1/2]
srdefenders.org/greece-analy...
"By treating solidarity as potential criminal conduct and the search for accountability as a threat, the Greek government is undermining democratic checks and balances." @evacosse.bsky.social @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2026/02...
16.02.2026 13:46 — 👍 1 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 1
#Greece is doubling down on its assault on civic space. From criminalizing humanitarian workers to threatening journalists and lawyers, the rule of law is under fire.
@ec.europa.eu should act now to protect democratic checks and balances.
Read my @hrw.org dispatch here www.hrw.org/news/2026/02...
"The criminal case against human rights defenders Panayote Dimitras and Tommy Olsen for exposing violations at Greece’s borders remained pending at this writing, with Dimitras still under a travel ban."
04.02.2026 23:47 — 👍 0 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
The flag of Greece flying in the wind against a blue sky background.
Extremely concerned by the proposed immigration bill in #Greece which will only further demonise civil society & in the country & criminalise the defence of migrants' rights, placing Greece in violation of its international human rights obligations.
04.02.2026 16:05 — 👍 7 🔁 7 💬 0 📌 0
L’année 2025 pourrait être considérée comme un point de bascule pour les droits humains dans le monde. Alors que les États-Unis sapent le système international des droits humains, qui va assurer sa défense ?
Notre Rapport mondial 2026 👇
https://www.hrw.org/fr/world-report/2026
🆘 Civil Society: Greece remains "obstructed" (CIVICUS). Authorities continue to criminalize solidarity. 24 humanitarian workers faced trial in Dec 2025 in what the EU Parliament calls the "largest case of criminalization of solidarity in Europe."
04.02.2026 14:30 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Migration: A historic first—21 Coast Guard officers face felony charges for the 2023 Pylos shipwreck. However, systemic pushbacks continue. In July 2025, the gov suspended asylum access for 3 months for arrivals from North Africa—a clear violation of EU law.
04.02.2026 14:30 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0🔍 Surveillance: The "Predatorgate" scandal remains unresolved. While a misdemeanor trial of 4 spyware executives began in Sept 2025, no state officials have been held accountable for the wiretapping of politicians and journalists.
04.02.2026 14:30 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0📰 Media Freedom: For the 4th year, Greece ranks LAST in the EU for press freedom (RSF). Journalists face a hostile environment: state surveillance, SLAPPs (abusive lawsuits), and intimidation. Impunity for the 2021 murder of Giorgos Karaivaz remains a dark shadow.
04.02.2026 14:30 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0⚖️ Rule of Law: Lack of accountability for the 2023 Tempi train crash has exposed systemic failings. A January 2025 poll showed >80% of Greeks lack faith in the justice system. Mass protests continue to demand justice.
04.02.2026 14:30 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Breaking! @hrw.org has just released its World Report 2026. The findings for #Greece 🇬🇷 show a serious deterioration in the rule of law and human rights throughout 2025. Here are the key takeaways: #Rights2026
www.hrw.org/world-report...
The Greek govt introduced an immigration bill that explicitly links humanitarian workers w/ criminal conduct, when in reality they R helping people in distress trying to reach Greece. Parliament should reject these provisions & protect civic space. @evacosse.bsky.social
www.hrw.org/news/2026/01...
🏛️ TODAY: Greek Parliament debates a bill that demonizes civil society.
NGO membership becomes an "aggravating factor" for criminal offenses, with the Minister granted unchecked power to vet aid workers.
Parliament should reject these abusive articles NOW: www.hrw.org/news/2026/01...
bsky.app/profile/hrw....
16.01.2026 18:50 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
VICTORY: All 24 aid workers in Lesbos have been ACQUITTED of all felony charges! ⚖️
While this is a vindication for the defendants, it is also bittersweet. This 7-year ordeal has shut down life-saving work while people continue to drown.
Our full reaction for @hrw.org 👇
After a 7-year ordeal, humanitarians wept with relief today as a court in Lesbos acquitted all 24 of bogus felony charges. ⚖️
But the damage is real: while solidarity was criminalized, life-saving work was paralyzed.
See here our @hrw.org dispatch:
www.hrw.org/news/2026/01...
After a 7-year ordeal, humanitarians wept with relief today as a court in Lesbos acquitted all 24 of bogus felony charges. ⚖️
But the damage is real: while solidarity was criminalized, life-saving work was paralyzed.
See here our @hrw.org dispatch:
www.hrw.org/news/2026/01...
VICTORY: All 24 aid workers in Lesbos have been ACQUITTED of all felony charges! ⚖️
While this is a vindication for the defendants, it is also bittersweet. This 7-year ordeal has shut down life-saving work while people continue to drown.
Our full reaction for @hrw.org 👇
🚨 MAJOR UPDATE: The bench prosecutor in Lesbos has recommended that all 24 defendants be found NOT GUILTY.
He stated that none of the allegations were proven. The court is now adjourned—judges return in less than an hour for the final verdit.
One defendant's testimony today cut through the "empty" legal arguments:
"If you have ever taken a child out of a small boat so cold you don’t know if it’s alive or not, you don’t want the boat to be on the water any longer than necessary."
Saving lives is a human reflex.
#FreeHumanitarians
Update from Lesbos: The trial is currently paused. ⚖️
The hearing is set to resume at 3:30 PM local time, when the prosecutor will issue his recommendation on the felony charges.
My colleague Bill Van Esveld is on-site monitoring the situation.
#FreeHumanitarians
🚨 Update from Greece: The trial of 24 humanitarians resumes today on Lesbos, #Greece ⚖️
The @europarl.europa.eu has branded this the “largest case of criminalization of solidarity in Europe.”
My colleague @billvanesveld.bsky.social is there to monitor for @hrw.org
Saving lives is not a crime
