Greek Council for Refugees voices concern over Minister Plevris’ statements

The Greek Council for Refugees has expressed serious concern over recent remarks by Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris, which targeted lawyers defending migrants and refugees. The Council warned that such attacks go beyond legal boundaries and undermine the rule of law.

According to efsyn.gr, Plevris has repeatedly challenged the principle of presumption of innocence, publicly commenting on ongoing judicial and disciplinary investigations. He recently criticized the defense lawyer of a 31-year-old man accused of human trafficking, focusing on the lawyer’s work with an NGO supporting refugees and migrants, and implying that such work is inherently criminal.

The Council described this as part of a broader, worrying trend of criminalizing those who defend human rights, document violations, or perform their professional duties according to the law, ethics, and Greece’s international obligations. “Lawyers providing legal aid to survivors or defendants, journalists reporting on testimonies, and humanitarian organizations delivering medical and psychosocial support are arbitrarily treated as ‘suspects’ — not for illegal acts, but because their work challenges official narratives and exposes dark aspects of state practices,” the statement said.

The Council warned that this criminalization creates fear, self-censorship, and silence, directly undermining the rule of law, freedom of the press, and access to justice. “Most importantly, it shifts attention away from fundamental issues: the obligation to save and protect human life, the right to asylum, fair trials, and the prevention of human rights violations at the borders. When defenders of rights are treated as enemies, the rule of law collapses — and that affects us all,” the statement concluded.