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The Republic of Cyprus does not engage in migrant pushbacks, Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection Nikolas Ioannides said Wednesday, pushing back on media reports suggesting otherwise.
In a statement, the ministry said some media outlets had misrepresented Ioannides’ comments during a session of the Parliamentary Audit Committee, implying he described pushbacks as legal.
"The deputy minister made clear during the committee meeting and in statements afterward that operations by Cypriot authorities aim to combat human trafficking and respond to maritime distress calls," the ministry said.
Ioannides "categorically denies" that Cyprus conducts pushbacks, the statement added.
Migrant pushbacks refer to the practice of forcibly returning migrants or asylum-seekers across borders, often at sea or land, without allowing them to apply for asylum or assessing their protection needs. The practice has been widely criticized by human rights groups and international organizations as a violation of international law.
The ministry also clarified that Ioannides' reference to a 65% drop in migration flows referred to the decline in irregular arrivals in 2024 compared with 2022.
