Newsroom
A tragic shipwreck off Cape Greco has reignited the debate over Cyprus’ handling of migration, just as the government claimed to have successfully tackled the issue. According to Kathimerini's Christos Bouris, the incident, which left at least seven migrants dead, has prompted criticism from NGOs and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), while Cypriot officials strongly deny any wrongdoing.
Government Claims Migration Issue Resolved
During a recent interview, President Nikos Christodoulides expressed frustration that journalists hadn’t questioned him about migration—a matter he claimed had been “solved” within two years. His comments came just days before Deputy Minister of Immigration Nicolas Ioannidis outlined how Cyprus had made itself an unattractive destination for migrants.
However, the narrative shifted dramatically when reports emerged of a fatal shipwreck near Cape Greco, once again raising questions about the effectiveness of Cyprus’ Search and Rescue Coordination Center (CPSD) and the Port Police.
UNHCR Alleges Pushbacks
On Tuesday, UNHCR Cyprus issued a damning statement, accusing Cypriot authorities of forcing back three boats carrying around 80 Syrian migrants on March 14. The UN agency stated that the boats were “allegedly intercepted by Cypriot authorities, resulting in the Syrian nationals being forcibly returned to Syria from where they had left.”
UNHCR reiterated its stance against pushbacks, stressing that such actions violate international law and the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning asylum seekers to places where they may face danger.
Defence Minister: ‘They’ll Call Us Murderers Next’
Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas pushed back against the criticism in an appearance on Sigma TV’s Headline program, expressing frustration over accusations against Cyprus.
“I feel bitter about some of the posts and articles written by ‘our own people,’” Palmas said. “At this rate, they’ll call us murderers too, despite the daily efforts of our forces to save lives.”
He explained that when reports surfaced of a migrant boat in international waters, Cyprus deployed Coast Guard vessels to investigate. Finding no signs of distress, they withdrew. The following day, however, a search team discovered a survivor at sea. Hours later, another survivor was found, and shortly after, the bodies of seven men, aged 25–30, were recovered.
The NGO Alarm Phone, which monitors distress calls from migrants at sea, had previously warned that a possible pushback was taking place. In a social media post, it claimed that Cypriot authorities had acknowledged their inquiry but failed to provide further details.
Deputy Minister Dismisses UNHCR Allegations
Speaking on Alpha Update, Deputy Minister Ioannidis dismissed the UNHCR’s accusations as misleading. He defended Cyprus’ response to the Cape Greco shipwreck and criticized NGOs for spreading unverified claims.
“We should not blame the authorities or accept everything NGOs say without question,” he argued.
Ioannidis also cast doubt on UNHCR’s March 14 pushback claims, insisting that Cyprus was making efforts to cooperate with the agency. However, he noted that past UNHCR reports had contained inaccuracies, suggesting a strained relationship between the government and the refugee agency.
Government Issues Strong Denial
In a joint statement, the Ministries of Justice, Defence, and Migration denied any wrongdoing, rejecting claims that Cyprus had engaged in pushbacks, let alone used force such as water cannons or gunfire to deter migrants.
The government emphasized that the Cape Greco tragedy should not be linked to Alarm Phone’s earlier distress call, stating that they had responded to three separate incidents in recent days. Officials also criticized “misleading” social media reports, questioning the credibility of certain photos and videos circulating online.
AKEL Calls for Investigation
Opposition party AKEL has called on the Attorney General to launch an independent inquiry into the Cape Greco incident. The party recalled that the previous administration had also denied involvement in pushbacks—until the European Court of Human Rights ruled against Cyprus and imposed heavy fines.
