The Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) issued a statement Wednesday calling for a thorough investigation into reports that emerged claiming Cyprus had conducted pushbacks of vessels carrying people from Syria, allegedly under the threat of weapons.
These testimonies directly contradict assurances given by relevant ministers and the deputy minister in recent days, who repeatedly insisted that no pushbacks were taking place, AKEL noted in its statement.
“The question that arises here is when did the authorities have time to investigate these allegations and assure that no pushback occurred,” the party stated.
AKEL reminded that the previous administration also provided assurances that pushbacks were not occurring, until the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) imposed significant fines on Cyprus for conducting such operations.
The left-wing party called on the Attorney General to appoint an independent investigative committee to thoroughly examine the incident, which reportedly resulted in loss of life.
The statement emphasised that the principle of non-refoulement is a legal principle in international law that prohibits all states from acting in ways that would expose people attempting to flee countries where they face persecution or human rights violations to danger.
Human rights organisations have previously expressed concerns about Cyprus’ migration policies, particularly regarding the treatment of asylum seekers arriving by sea.
Cyprus migrant boat disaster
On March 17, a boat carrying more than 20 migrants from Syria capsized off Cyprus. Authorities have rescued two people while seven bodies have been recovered. More than 11 are still unaccounted for.
The NGO Alarm Phone reported receiving calls for help for the boat in distress as early as March 16 and expressed concerns that pushbacks might have taken place.
According to AlphaNews, survivors’ testimonies said that Cyprus authorities had fired warning shots into the sea while ordering the people on the boats to turn back.
AlphaNews reports that authorities boarded the boats, handcuffed the passengers and confiscated their mobile phones, while some were beaten.
Cypriot opposition parties have called for a probe into the claims.
What is a pushback
The term “pushback” refers to measures taken by states to forcibly return migrants, including asylum seekers, to the country from which they attempted to cross or have crossed an international border, without access to international protection or asylum procedures, or without any individual assessment of their protection needs.
Such actions often violate international laws, including the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to countries where they may face persecution. Pushbacks can occur both at land and sea borders.
Cyprus accused of pushbacks
Cyprus has faced accusations of conducting pushbacks against migrants and asylum seekers. In July 2024, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that Cypriot authorities forcibly removed 25 migrants from government-controlled areas to the buffer zone, denying them access to asylum procedures. The Cypriot government denied these allegations, asserting that no such pushbacks occurred.
Additionally, in October 2024, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Cyprus violated the rights of two Syrian asylum seekers by preventing them from applying for asylum and returning them to Lebanon without processing their claims. The court found this action amounted to degrading treatment.
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