News
Norwegian police allegations against me untrue-Tommy Olsen
Founder of Aegean Boat Report, Tommy Olsen has described allegations levelled against him by the Norwegian police as baseless and untrue. He said the move was a calculated attempt to silence him.
Olsen was arrested last week in connection with a European Arrest Warrant issued by Greece.
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.”
Alarm Phone, an organisation that provides independent support to people attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to the European Union, has commended SOS Humanity for rescuing 65 people who were found in distress in the central Mediterranean.
In a post on X, Alarm Phone said the group had alerted the organisation after the 65 people contacted it while in distress at sea. Alarm Phone said it subsequently notified authorities and civilian search-and-rescue organisations, but it was the civil fleet that responded to the emergency.
“Rescued!” Alarm Phone said, thanking SOS Humanity for responding to the distress call and carrying out the rescue operation.
The development follows an earlier report by Voice for African Migrants that the SOS Humanity search-and-rescue vessel Humanity 1 had rescued 65 people, including 10 minors and four women, after they were found in distress following a journey from Libya.
According to SOS Humanity, the rescue was conducted on Wednesday afternoon after the group had reportedly spent three days exposed to the open sea and extreme heat.
The Humanity 1 crew said the distress situation was reported by Alarm Phone, with reconnaissance aircraft Albatross Uno also helping to locate the people in need of assistance.
The survivors were reportedly found exhausted and dehydrated and were taken aboard Humanity 1, where they received emergency medical care.
SOS Humanity criticised European migration policies, accusing European governments of abandoning people in distress while civil search-and-rescue organisations face increasing scrutiny and political criticism.
The organisation said the rescue demonstrated the importance of civilian search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean and reaffirmed its commitment to rescuing people in distress, documenting their experiences and providing protection to those in need.
Alarm Phone has repeatedly called for greater protection of people attempting to cross the Mediterranean and for an effective European search-and-rescue system to prevent deaths at sea.
Le navire de recherche et de sauvetage Humanity 1 de SOS Humanity International a secouru 65 personnes, dont 10 mineurs et quatre femmes, après les avoir retrouvées en détresse en mer, à la suite d’une traversée au départ de la Libye.
Selon un communiqué de SOS Humanity International publié sur X, l’opération de sauvetage a été menée mercredi après-midi. Les migrants auraient passé trois jours exposés à la mer et à une chaleur extrême.
Selon l’équipage de l’Humanity 1, la situation de détresse avait été signalée par Alarm Phone et l’avion de reconnaissance Albatross Uno, qui ont contribué à alerter les secouristes sur la position des migrants.
Les survivants ont été retrouvés épuisés et déshydratés. Ils reçoivent désormais des soins médicaux d’urgence à bord de l’Humanity 1.
L’organisation de sauvetage a critiqué les politiques migratoires européennes, accusant les gouvernements européens d’abandonner les personnes en détresse tandis que les organisations de recherche et de sauvetage font l’objet d’une surveillance et de critiques croissantes.
« C’est la société civile qui a sauvé ces personnes », a déclaré l’équipage, soulignant qu’il poursuivrait ses opérations de recherche et de sauvetage malgré l’opposition politique.
L’organisation a également réaffirmé son engagement à secourir les personnes en détresse en mer, à documenter leurs expériences et à assurer la protection de celles qui en ont besoin.
SOS Humanity (International) search-and-rescue vessel, Humanity 1 has rescued 65 people, including 10 minors and four women, after they were found in distress at sea following a journey from Libya.
According to a statement by SOS Humanity (International) on X, the rescue operation was carried out on Wednesday afternoon after the migrants had reportedly spent three days exposed to the open sea and extreme heat.
According to the Humanity 1 crew, the distress situation was reported by Alarm Phone and reconnaissance aircraft Albatross Uno, which helped alert rescuers to the migrants’ location.
The survivors were found exhausted and dehydrated and are now receiving emergency medical care aboard the Humanity 1.
The rescue organisation criticised European migration policies, accusing European governments of abandoning people in distress while search-and-rescue organisations face increasing scrutiny and criticism.
“It was civil society that rescued these people,” the crew said, stressing that it would continue its search-and-rescue operations despite political opposition.
The organisation said it would continue to rescue people in distress at sea, document their experiences and provide protection to those in need.
Alarm Phone salue le sauvetage de personnes en détresse par SOS Humanity
Alarm Phone commends SOS Humanity for rescuing distressed people
Humanity 1 secourt 10 mineurs et 55 autres personnes en détresse en mer
Humanity 1 rescues 10 minors, 55 others in distress at sea
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