World

Greece to Try Norwegian Founder of Aegean Boat Report on Smuggling Charges

By John T Psaropoulos

A Greek court will open trial proceedings on Tuesday against Tommy Olsen, 54, founder of the Aegean Boat Report, a Norwegian organization that monitors distressed vessels in the Aegean Sea. The public prosecutor on the island of Kos has accused Olsen of conspiring to smuggle refugees into Greece and of concealing them from authorities. Olsen, who has not been extradited by Norwegian authorities because they found the evidence insufficient, says he is defending the rule of law by alerting Greek or Turkish asylum services and coastguards about the location and identity of asylum seekers. He claims that the Greek authorities view his actions as facilitating smuggling.

Olsen could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Human rights groups see the case as part of Greece’s effort to silence independent monitors of human rights abuses, a matter that has previously led to European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings condemning Greece for pushbacks. Pushbacks are illegal turnarounds of potential asylum seekers, contrary to the 1951 Geneva Convention, which obliges signatories to provide an asylum hearing.

Aegean Boat Report has supplied evidence for ECHR cases and has helped expose at least two dozen instances of improper practices by the Hellenic Coastguard. The Council of Europe has called for retraining of Greek law enforcement officers and other measures to address systematic pushbacks. Failure to provide effective access to international protection procedures could lead to suspension of EU funding for Greece.

Olsen’s lawyer, Zacharias Kesses, describes the prosecution as “judicial harassment” aimed at removing organizations that record irregular or illegal coastguard practices. Greek authorities have previously shut down two aid groups, and in January all 30 members of the Emergency Response Centre International were acquitted of similar charges. The Greek government passed a law in February that cuts public funding to an aid group if any member is merely accused of a felony.

Olsen’s sponsors have ended support for Aegean Boat Report after Greece cut its funding. He has sold his car and faces unpaid legal bills of about 19,000 euros ($21,000). He has not taken a holiday with his family for years, saying his work has caused collateral damage to his relatives.

Despite the pressure, Olsen remains committed to his mission. He says the attacks from Greek authorities reinforce his belief that he is doing the right thing and that he is “hitting the right nail.”