Introduction
International and Greek organisations criticise media freedom ranking and report
The European Commission released Greece’s Rule of Law report in July 2024, which has been labelled as misleading by 14 international and Greek organisations in a joint press release published on 1st August 2024. The Commission’s Rule of Law report acknowledges several issues in Greece, including threats to media independence, journalists' safety, and access to information. Civil society groups criticise the report for downplaying the severity of the situation. These organisations believe the Commission ignored the serious conditions facing the media and journalists, as well as civil society organisations. For example, Greece ranks the lowest among EU member states in Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index. Despite highlighting some positive legal changes, the Commission’s report fails to address the persistent flaws and systemic issues undermining media freedom. Journalists face harassment, surveillance, and impunity for their attackers, further eroding press freedom. Additionally, civil society, especially activists working on migration, face significant obstacles. The groups call for stronger action from the European Commission to protect fundamental rights in Greece.
Freedom of Association
CEO of NGO targeted due to work with migrants
In June 2024, international media reported that an arrest warrant had been issued for the CEO and founder of the Aegean Boat Report, Tommy Olsen. Since 2021, allegations have been made against the Aegean Boat Report NGO, claiming that the organisation is part of an international smuggling ring. The Aegean Boat Report has denied such claims, stating that they would not have to help migrants if the Greek authorities fulfilled their duties, such as providing food, water, and assisting with asylum cases, in accordance with international, European and Greek law. The issue escalated on 14th May 2024, when Greek authorities issued an arrest warrant for Olsen. Previously, Olsen had been charged with facilitating “the entry and residence of third country nationals into Greek territory”, which Human Rights Watch called a “chilling message to all who dare to seek accountability and defend the rights of migrants”.
The most recent investigation into Olsen was launched by the island of Kos, and is only one of the five investigations currently targeting Olsen. He believes that these investigations, especially the one by Kos authorities, are politically motivated, as he and the Aegean Boat Report have posted videos showing alleged pushbacks by Kos authorities. The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Mary Lawlor, stated that Olsen “is being targeted in what appears to be an arbitrary investigation criminalising his work in defence of the rights of migrants”. Yet, Greek authorities have claimed that they have sound evidence against Olsen and have demanded he return to Greece for trial. Olsen refused but this has not stopped the authorities, who, according to Olsen’s lawyer in Greece, have begun work on an international arrest warrant against Olsen. If convicted, Olsen faces up to 20 years in prison.
Freedom of Expression
Failure to prosecute in the ‘Predatorgate’ scandal
As previously reported by the CIVICUS Monitor, there have been claims since 2022 that Predator spyware has been used to monitor journalists, politicians, and other public figures. The Supreme Court Prosecution Office, which was in charge of investigating these claims, ended its investigation on 30th July 2024, concluding that no state ministry or agency had used Predator or any other illegal surveillance software. The Court found sufficient evidence for the prosecution of four businesspeople who were involved in supplying such software in Greece.
In response, five opposition parties, SYRIZA, PASOK, Pleusi Eleftheria, New Left and the Greek Communist Party and KKE, called the court ruling of 30th July a “day of shame” and requested Parliament to summon the prosecutor and deputy prosecutor of the Supreme Court to explain this decision. However, on 2nd August 2024, this proposal was rejected by the ruling New Democracy party, stating that it would be unconstitutional to summon members of the judiciary to testify before Parliament. Reporters Without Borders released a statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to acquit the government agents.
Impunity persists in murder of journalist Giorgos Karaivaz
On 31st July 2024, the brothers charged with the 2021 murder Giorgos Karaivaz were acquitted by majority opinions. As previously reported by the CIVICUS Monitor, Giorgos Karaivaz was assassinated in broad daylight in front of his home on 9th April 2021. Karaivaz was an investigative journalist known for his coverage of organised crime. Following his murder, an investigation resulted in the arrest of two brothers on 28th April 2023. According to the judges, the acquittals stem from the lack of evidence against these men, and they will remain free unless new evidence emerges. Following the acquittal of the two suspects, the Committee to Protect Journalists called on the Greek authorities to deliver justice for Karaivaz.
Issues in covering courtroom hearings
The trial of two men accused of killing popular LGBTQI+ activist and drag performer Zack Kostopoulos, known as Zackie Oh, ended on 10th July 2024, with the accused found guilty. The ZackieOh Justice Watch, an initiative formed by journalists and independent media, monitored the high-profile trial, which, although open to public viewing, could not be broadcasted. Instead, the Watch publicised the murder trial of Kostopoulos through live recording of the hearings which were then posted on social media. This ended, however, on 5th July 2024, when the Ministry of Justice expanded Article 8 of the Law 3090/2002, which forbids the broadcasting of court hearings over television or radio without judicial approval, to include transmissions over the internet. This was called an “evasive stance” by ThePressProject and raised concerns over transparency and the public’s right to stay informed on judicial proceedings. Similarly, the ZackieOh Justice Watch released a statement on 9th July 2024, stating that the decision was unconstitutional.
Journalist beaten while reporting on wildfires
On 19th June 2024, journalist Froixos Drakontidis was physically attacked while broadcasting for the newsite protothema.gr. Reporting on wildfires which had spread on Varis-Koropiou Avenue, Drakontidis was approached by three male employees of a jet ski business which was engulfed in flames. The men reportedly demanded that Drakontidis leave, as he was on their property, but Drakontidis refused, explaining to them that he was a journalist. The three men then punched and kicked Drakontidis, causing him to fall to the ground, where they continued to beat him. In a statement to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Drakontidis claimed that the beating was so bad he lost consciousness for a few seconds after hitting the ground. Even though all of this was captured live, little has been done to prosecute the attackers, Drakontidis said, in the days after the attack.
Fact-checking website threatened by MP
On 25th June 2024, Kyriakos Velopoulos, a member of Greek Parliament and the founder and leader of the minority Greek Solution Party, publicly threatened Ellinika Hoaxes, a fact checking website which has consistently debunked Velopoulos’ claims. Ellinika Hoaxes is part of a not-for-profit organisation and a signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network’s Code of Principles and member of the EU’s Social Observatory for Disinformation and Social Media Analysis and the European Digital Media Observatory. Velopoulos called on Parliament to “abolish the anti-Hellenic Hoaxes because they fight against the true informing of Greeks”. In a statement released on its website, Ellinika Hoaxes called Velopoulos’ statement unconstitutional. The European Fact-Checking Standards Network, which Ellinika Hoaxes is also a member of, defended the website against these acts of intimidation.
Journalist targeted for his reporting
On 21st July 2024, Kostas Kantouris was covering a protest in Ouranoupolis, Greece for EPT News. The protest was against the removal of the old brotherhood of Esfigmenos Monastery, a group of monks who have been occupying the monastery since the decision was made to remove them in 2002. Due to his coverage of the protest, the Holy Monastery of Esfigmenos’ official website published an article the next day, discrediting Kantouris as a journalist and questioning his integrity. At the end of the article is a video showing Kantouris as he was reporting at the scene of the protest, an action which exposed the journalist to danger. In response, the Board of Directors of ESIEM-Th reported the incident to the Council of Europe’s Platform for the Safety of Journalists and to the Media Freedom Rapid Response.
Businessman threatens news outlet with lawsuit
On 14th August 2024, news outlet Tvxs reported that businessman Aristdis Floros had initiated a lawsuit against them. Floros demanded Tvxs delete 182 posts about him, as he had been implicated in the Energa scandal and sentenced to prison for embezzlement, smuggling and money laundering, as well as the attempted murder of Georgios Antonopoulos, a lawyer. However, Floros was declared innocent of all charges in April 2024, after a decision by the Supreme Court. Now, Floros is claiming that, by leaving the articles covering his trial on the website, Tvxs is causing him “enormous professional and personal destruction”. The lawsuit has been called a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP) by the Journalists’ Union of the Athens Daily Newspapers. Tvxs stated that it will not delete articles which, at the time, were factually correct and intended to inform the public. Instead, to respect journalistic ethics and the protection of personal data, notes will be added to every article which covered Floros' trial, stating that he was acquitted of all charges.
Freedom of Assembly
Nationwide prisoner hunger strike
On 22nd July 2024, prisoners throughout Greece began a hunger strike over the conditions they face in prison, as well as restrictions to their rights stemming from the new Penal and Criminal Codes. According to a letter by the prisoners to the newsite Efsyn, they are protesting for 1) new regulations to differentiate criminals from more extreme charges like femicides, rapists, and paedophiles, as harsher restrictions intended for these more extreme crimes also impact other prisoners; 2) the end of opportunistic legislation changes that occur after the media covers a heinous crime; and 3) that licensing and conditional dismissal processes must be governed by the rules in place at the time of a prisoner’s arrest. Also, they are against new developments to the Penal Code which only allows a prisoner to receive leave only a short time before they are to be granted parole, which creates difficulties in prisoners’ reintegration and resocialisation.
Workers protest new labour laws
Protests were scheduled by workers’ unions in Athens and Thessaloniki on 3rd and 4th July 2024, in response to a new labour law that came into effect on 1st July 2024. The law implemented a six-day working week for certain types of businesses. This law affects businesses which are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is intended to redress issues regarding overtime, undeclared work, and productivity. Labour leaders have claimed such legislation is only intended to help big businesses, and cite Eurostat figures for 2023 which show Greece already has the most hours per working week in Europe at 39.8 hours per week.
Public healthcare workers strike
On 29th July 2024, the Panhellenic Medical Association organised a protest and strike in Athens. This occurred at the same time as Parliament voted on proposed reforms to Greece’s mental health institutions, drug rehabilitation programs, and therapy centres. According to the union, the reforms will cause local centres to lose their authority and autonomy to regional centres, leading to privatisation and resulting in decreased quality of service. Also, it would force private doctors to work shifts in public hospitals; any doctor who refuses to work in a public hospital will not be allowed to use Greece’s electronic prescription system. These doctors will effectively be barred from practising. This was called blackmail by union leaders, and one SYRIZA Member of Parliament stated it would cause harm, especially to vulnerable social groups. Despite the opposition, all of these reforms were passed as part of the mental health revision package.
Protest in support of Zack Kostopoulos
On 10th July 2024, the last day of the trial for murdered LGBTQI+ activist Zack Kostopoulos hundreds of demonstrators gathered to demand justice. They marched from the site of his murder to the Parliament, the only incident being a temporary traffic jam.
Violence at banned protest
Two rallies scheduled for 1st September 2024 were banned by the police. Two organisations, the Community of Special Forces Reserves and the Constitutional National Assembly/Direct Democracy, had organised these afternoon rallies in front of the parliament building in Athens’ Syntagma Square. Authorities, however, banned the demonstrations, stating that the groups had not notified them of their intentions to invite the public to attend, and that there would be danger posed to public safety, vehicle and pedestrian traffic, and the social and economic operations in the area. Still, about 250 gathered as part of the scheduled demonstrations,which turned violent when police attempted to break up the protest. While police were approaching the crowd, some people threw objects at them. This resulted in the police using tear gas to forcibly disperse the crowd. Police detained 33 of the protesters.
Protests over the failure to properly investigate sinking of the Adriana
On 14th June 2024, protests occurred throughout Greece on the anniversary of the sinking of the vessel Adriana. Approximately 2,000 gathered in Athens, where a survivor of the incident spoke to the crowd. On the same day, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the UN International Organisation for Migration released a joint statement stressing the importance of the investigation being “comprehensive and conclusive”.
Adriana, a vessel carrying 750 people, capsized on 14th June 2023 and 82 were confirmed dead, with more than 500 still missing. Little has been done to investigate the Greek Coast Guard, as the Greek Naval Court’s investigation remains in its preliminary stage. In their own briefing, published six months after the incident, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch outlined Greece’s failure to prevent this incident. The report claims that the Greek patrol boat dispatched to assist the Adriana, the PPLS920, caused the vessel to sink after attempting to tow it. The Refugee Support Aegean (RSA) organisation released a documentary on 14th June 2024, which details the experience onboard Adriana from a survivor’s perspective, as well as the subsequent legal difficulties.
The only legal proceedings was a trial of nine Egyptian survivors of the sinking, but the charges were dropped and the case dismissed on 21st May 2024. The nine survivors had been held since 15th July 2023, and were accused of being smugglers in charge of the boat. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch expressed concerns over the fairness of the trial.
On 16th June 2024, the BBC released a report of its investigation into the actions of the Coast Guard. According to witnesses and nine survivors, 43 people were killed by officers’ actions from May 2020 to May 2023. Some survivors even reported they had been hunted by officers after landing on Greek soil, denying their right to asylum and forcing them into the water or onto rafts unsuitable for the open sea. After the release of the BBC report, the political party SYRIZA called for an investigation into the BBC’s claims, demanding the government be held accountable.