Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas on Thursday rejected allegations of pushbacks by Cypriot authorities, after seven people were found dead while at least 10 others are missing after a migrant boat capsized off Cyprus.
Speaking after a House Defence Committee meeting, Palmas dismissed accusations against the republic’s authorities regarding migrant pushbacks, stating that Cyprus respects maritime law and international regulations.
“I want to categorically declare once again that the Republic of Cyprus is a democracy that absolutely respects maritime law and international law,” Palmas said. “We are a small country that always prioritises matters of principle concerning international organisations and international behaviour.”
The minister’s remarks follow several statements made in the past 24 hours regarding the issue, which prompted a joint statement from the Ministry of Public Order, Ministry of Defence, and Deputy Ministry of Migration trying to explain how more than 10 people drowned off Cyprus.
Palmas added that Cyprus “is not an unfortified democracy” but rather one with established institutions and bodies, where the government and responsible ministers must properly fulfil their duties.
“The monitoring of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, whether from land or sea, is imperative on our part to maintain at least the self-respect needed as a member state of the international community,” he added.
The defence minister maintained that patrols and surveillance activities fall within Cyprus’s legitimate rights and do not deviate from international operational standards.
When asked whether the allegations would be investigated, Palmas stated: “We are in a position to say with certainty that these allegations made against the competent authorities of the republic do not exist. Therefore, there is no other issue for investigation.”
The parliamentary meeting had convened to discuss regulations for voluntary military service for women in the National Guard.
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 10 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 reported 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.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Cyprus has also expressed concern about a pushback incident involving Syrian nationals seeking to reach the island.
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
The country has been accused of carrying out pushbacks at land and sea by many local and international organisations. 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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