European Commission continues to support Greek border operations despite mounting evidence of grave abuses – Tommy Olsen

Founder of Aegean Boat Report, Tommy Olsen says the European Commission has for years continued to support Greek border operations despite mounting evidence of grave abuses.

Olsen stated this in a statement chronicling why the Norwegian police arrested him last week in connection with a European Arrest Warrant issued by Greece.  

He described allegations levelled against him by the Norwegian police as baseless and untrue.

Olsen said: “As most of you know, I was arrested by Norwegian police last week in connection with a European Arrest Warrant issued by Greece, based on allegations I categorically reject. The accusations against me are: • participation in and membership of a criminal organization • facilitating the entry into Greek territory of third-country nationals, allegedly committed repeatedly, by two or more persons, for profit, and in the course of professional activity • facilitating the unlawful stay or resistance of third-country nationals, allegedly for profit and on a repeated basis None of these allegations are true. I have seen no credible evidence to substantiate them.”

For years, Olsen said “I have documented and published evidence of serious human rights violations against people on the move in the Aegean. These include violent pushbacks, illegal expulsions, abuse, and actions that have put countless lives at risk. The evidence is extensive. Yet accountability has remained absent. Europe has too often looked away in the name of border protection. The European Commission has for years continued to support Greek border operations despite mounting evidence of grave abuses.

“This has helped create a climate of impunity, where Greece has effectively become a testing ground for how far state violence can go without meaningful political consequences. On 14 June 2023, more than 600 people died off Pylos when the fishing vessel Adriana sank after an attempted intervention by the Greek Coast Guard. Despite the scale of the disaster, there has been no independent EU investigation, no infringement proceedings, and no accountability for those responsible.

“At the same time, Greek authorities have systematically targeted individuals and organisations that expose abuses. Judicial harassment, criminal investigations, arrests, and years-long legal proceedings have become tools of intimidation. The purpose is clear: to silence criticism, discourage documentation, and create a chilling effect on frontline defenders and whistleblowers. For more than six years, I have personally faced harassment and threats because of my work documenting abuses in Greece. Considerable effort has been invested in trying to silence me.”

Continuing, he said: “Now Norwegian authorities have been asked to act on Greece’s behalf. So far, it appears they are doing so without properly confronting the obvious political context of this case. I may have been naive in my faith in the Norwegian legal system. The idea that a whistleblower and human rights defender can be handed over to the very state authorities he has spent years scrutinising is deeply alarming.

“If those accused of serious abuses can issue an unfounded arrest warrant against a critic, and other European states simply comply, what message does that send? Who will dare to speak out? Who will continue documenting injustice? Frontline human rights defenders are essential to democracy, the rule of law, and accountability. Yet around the world, they are increasingly targeted through false accusations, judicial harassment, and arbitrary detention. The UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders affirms the right to carry out peaceful human rights work without fear of criminalisation. States have an obligation to protect defenders, not help silence them. Right now, I believe Norwegian authorities have failed badly in that responsibility.”