Safi and others v Greece (Application No 5418/15)

Briefed on 15 September 2023

This case concerns the ineffective investigation into a coastguard operation in 2014 in the Aegean Sea during which eleven relatives of the migrant applicants who were aboard a fishing boat drowned (procedural violation of Article 2).

The case is currently examined under the standard supervision procedure. The speakers, Minos Mouzourakis from Refugee Support Aegean, and Stephanos Stavros, on behalf of the Hellenic League for Human Rights, Human Rights Legal Project & I Have Rights highlighted that:

·         The violations which occurred in January 2014 are relevant through time: similar incidents e.g. in Agathonisi (2018), Pylos (2023)

·         The execution raises complex issues as regards the adequacy of resources, design and roll-out of Coast Guard operations at sea & on search and rescue procedures

·         The assessment of investigations raises complex issues pertaining to the  institutional set-up (interrogation officials, prosecutors’ approach), adequacy of selection and modalities of witness examination, assessment of evidence et al.

And therefore respectfully requested  the transfer of the Safi and Others v Greece case to the enhanced supervision procedure.

• Power point presentation by Minos Mouzourakis and Stephanos Stavros

• Rule 9.2 from Refugee Support Aegean and Stiftung Pro Asyl on the case (August 2023)

• Rule 9.2 from the AIRE Centre, HIAS Greece and Equal Rights Beyond Borders (August 2023)

• Rule 9.2 by the Hellenic League for Human Rights (June 2023)

HOUSE of MACEDONIAN CIVILIZATION AND OTHERS v GREECE (Application No 1295/10)

Briefed on 22 November 2019

The House of Macedonian Civilization case is about the non-registration by courts of an association, contrary to the Court’s 1998 judgment concerning the same association.

• Briefing text on the House of Macedonian Civilization and others, by Panayote Dimitras

• Rule 9.1 on the House of Macedonian Civilization and others, by the Greek Helsinki Monitor (October 2019)

Sakir v Greece (Application No 48475/09)

Briefed on 22 November 2019

This case concerns ineffective investigations into alleged hate crimes. Mr Dimitras called upon the CM to ask Greece to amend its anti-racism Law 927/79, so as to implement the recommendations of ECRI, UN HRCttee and UN CERD to criminalize racist insults and defamation, as well as the public dissemination, public distribution, production or storage of racist material.

Briefing text on the Sakir group, by Panayote Dimitras, Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM)

Rule 9.1. and 9.2. on the Sakir group, by the Greek Helsinki Monitor (October 2019)

Makaratzis and others group of cases v Greece (Application No 50385/99)

Briefed on: 23 November 2018

These cases concern ill-treatment and the unauthorized and disproportionate use of force by law enforcement officials.

• Memo by Panayote Dimitras, Spokesperson from the Greek Helsinki Monitor

• October and September GHM rules 9 on this case

Nisiotis Group v Greece (Application No 34704/08)

Briefed on: 1 March 2024 and 10 September 2018

The Nisiotis Group v Greece concerns the inhuman and/or degrading treatment of the applicants arising from poor conditions of detention in overcrowded prisons in Greece (violation of Art. 3)., notably in Ioannina, Korydallos, Diavata/ Thessaloniki, Alikarnassos, Patra, Larissa, Corfu, Korydallos prison Hospital, Hios, Komotini, Nafplio and Korinthos in relation to more than 1,200 applicants.

Documents from the 2024 briefing:

• Powerpoint by Professor Tsitselikis, University of Macedonia, Representative of the Hellenic League for Human Rights

• Latest Rule 9.2. communication on this case by the Hellenic League for Human Rights (January 2024)

Documents from the 2018 briefing:

• Memo Professor Tsitselikis, University of Macedonia-Thessaloniki, and Member of the Hellenic League for Human Rights

• Rule 9.2. communication on this case, by the Hellenic League for Human Rights

• July 2018 communication from the Greek authorities on this case

• Final judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (20/6/2011, in French)