Campaign for the access to asylum in Greece
Σάββατο 28 Μαρτίου 2026
ΝΑ ΠΑΥΣΕΙ Η ΔΙΩΞΗ ENANTION TOY AKTIΒΙΣΤΗ TOMMY OLSEN
CEASE THE PROSECUTION AGAINST ACTIVIST TOMMY OLSEN
STATEMENT*
CEASE THE PROSECUTION AGAINST ACTIVIST TOMMY OLSEN
The arrest of Norwegian activist Tommy Olsen, in execution of a European arrest warrant issued by the judicial authorities of Kos for the alleged formation of a criminal organization aimed at facilitating the illegal entry and residence of third country nationals in the country, constitutes the latest act of prosecution against human rights defenders who have denounced the crime of pushbacks taking place at the Greek borders.
More than three years ago, the “Campaign for the Access to Asylum” had denounced the prosecution against Panayote Dimitras, representative of the Greek Helsinki Monitor, for the same case in which activist Tommy Olsen is now facing arrest and extradition to Greece.
Today, and after it has already been proven, both by decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and by reports of independent international and national human rights protection bodies, that systematic pushbacks of refugees are carried out at the country's borders, proceedings have been initiated in Greece for the arrest and extradition of one of the most active in this field, who, from Norway, has unceasingly maintained, through personal effort and sacrifice for more than 9 years, an open line of communication with people at risk in the Aegean.
Following the recent acquittal of all members and volunteers of the ERCI organization by a court in Mytilene, the prosecution against Tommy Olsen is the last open prosecution against human rights defenders as well as search and rescue activists.
As organizations dedicated to defending refugees and migrants as well as human rights, we can only demand the cessation of the prosecution against Tommy Olsen and reinstate the requests of our previous announcement, which unfortunately remain relevant to this day:
The “Campaign for the Access to Asylum” and the organizations co-signing this announcement request from Greek and EU authorities:
⦁ Stop the prosecution of individuals and organizations operating as human rights defenders against rights violations, even those committed by state authorities and bodies.
⦁ Stop the systematic misinformation against individuals and organizations providing protection to asylum seekers, refugees, and vulnerable persons in general.
⦁ Promote the investigation of all complaints that have been brought to the attention of the competent authorities concerning the illegal practice of pushbacks.
⦁ Stop the systematic violations of fundamental human rights occurring at the borders of Greece and Europe.
CO- SIGNATORIES
1. Aegean Migrant Solidarity https://cpt.org/el/aegean-migrant-solidarity
2. Amnesty International – Greek Section https://www.amnesty.gr/
3. Amoqa (Athens Museum of Queer Arts) https://amoqa.net/
4. ARSIS-Social Organization for Youth Support http:/arsis.gr
5. Association of Greek Conscientious Objectors
https://antirrisies.gr/
6. Avocats Sans Frontières France www.avocatssansfrontieres-france.org
7. Collective Aid, https://www.collectiveaidngo.org/
8. CPT- Aegean Migrant Solidarity https://cpt.org/el/aegean-migrant-solidarity
9. Εcho100plus https://echo100plus.com/en
10. EmpowerVan https://www.empowervan.org/
11. Equal Rights Beyond Borders https://equal-rights.org/
12. European Association of Lawyers for Democracy & World Human Rights (ELDH), https://eldh.eu/en/
13. FemArtAct CoinSEp https://femartact.gr/
14. Fenix Humanitarian Legal Aid https://www.fenixaid.org/
15. forRefugees www.forrefugees.org)
16. Greek Council for Refugees https://gcr.gr/en/
17. Greek Forum of Migrants http: //www.migrant.gr
18. Greek Forum of Refugees http://www.refugees.gr
19. Greek Helsinki Monitor https://greekhelsinki.wordpress.com/
20. Greek Housing Network https://shorturl.at/68BgS
21. HA – Intereuropean Human Aid Αssociation https://www.iha.help/
22. Hellenic League for Human Rights https://www.hlhr.gr
23. HIAS Greece https://hias.org/
24. Human Rights Legal Project www.humanrightslp.eu
25. Humanist Union of Greece (HUG)
https://www.facebook.com/humanistuniongreece
26. KISA - Action for Equality, Support, Antiracism https://kisa.org.cy/
27. Legal Centre Lesvos https://legalcentrelesvos.org/
28. Mazí Housing https://www.mazihousing.org/
29. Médecins Sans Frontières – Greek Section https://msf.gr/
30. Minority Rights Group - Greece (MRG-G)
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064809156352
31. Mobile Info Team https://www.mobileinfoteam.org/
32. Network for Children’s Rights https://ddp.gr
33. Network for the Social Protection of Refugees & Migrants http://migrant.diktio.org N
34. Northern Lights Aid (NLA)https://www.northernlightsaid.org/
35. Oxfam https://www.oxfam.org
36. Refugee Support Aegean (RSA) www.rsaegean.org
37. Swiss Democratic Lawyers https://djs-jds.ch/de/
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*The Statement is open for sign-on by email: kampaniagiatoasylo@gmail.com