Why Greece Accused Der Spiegel Reporter of Being a Turkish Spy

Mitsotakis Family in Greek Politics

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, leader of the center-right New Democracy Party, has been the Prime Minister of Greece since July 2019. The surname Mitsotakis represents a long-established family that has shaped Greek politics. 

Kyriakos' father, Konstantinos Mitsotakis, was also a prominent political figure, serving as prime minister from 1990 to 1993 as the leader of the New Democracy Party. His sister Dora Bakoyannis was the mayor of Athens, the host city of the 2004 Olympic Games. Costas Bakoyannis (Mitsotakis' nephew) is also a politician who, like his mother, managed to become mayor of Athens in 2019. Kyriakos Mitsotakis' grandfather and great-grandfather were also members of the Greek parliament. His great-grandfather's brother was the famous Greek politician and statesman Eleuthérios Venizélos.

Who is Kyriakos Mitsotakis?

Born in 1968, Kyriakos completed a bachelor's degree in social sciences in 1990 in his home country and attended Harvard University. While at Harvard, he was awarded the Tocqueville and Hoopes prizes for his undergraduate thesis on the US government's foreign policy towards Greece. He received his master's degree in international relations from Stanford University in 1993. He trained himself in the finance and banking sector in the US and the UK.

In 2003, he started his political career in the New Democracy party and until 2019 he served as an MP and occasionally as a minister in Greek governments. Describing himself as a liberal reformer, Mitsotakis succeeded in becoming the leader of the New Democracy party in January 2016. He moved his party from its traditional right-wing stance to the center, seeking the votes of the wider masses. 

Mitsotakis' advocacy of privatization, promises to create jobs and cut spending and taxes resonated with Greek voters. In return, Mitsotakis led his party to a decisive victory in the European Parliament elections in May 2019. In response, the Greek people went to the polls on July 7, 2019, after then Prime Minister Tsipras decided to hold early elections, and Mitsotakis won 40% of the votes and became prime minister.

Prime Minister Mitsotakis' Refugee Policy

Mitsotakis is still seen as a liberal reformer who has largely addressed his country's financial and economic problems. With 30 million tourists each year, mostly Europeans, for a population of 10 million, the Greek islands remain a paradise for Europeans. This summer, millions of European tourists are also taking the opportunity to experience Greece's charms: sun, beaches and hospitality. As a member of the European Union, Greece's economy relies heavily on tourism and shipping. Tourism in particular plays a role in connecting the Greek people with the peoples of Europe. This may be the reason why governments in European capitals sometimes "warm up" to the Greek government and turn a blind eye to some of its mistakes.

In fact, the leading countries of the EU have been particularly vocal against rising nationalism, radical changes in attitudes towards democracy and authoritarianizing governments of EU member states. For example, the European Commission has long taken decisions expressing its displeasure with the autocracy in Hungary and Poland, and the marginal outlets for the erosion of democracy. It has called on these countries to respect EU values and not to break with the acquis communautaire. Yet, so far, Brussels, Berlin or Paris have been conspicuously absent from taking any action against Mitsotakis' actions, which are gradually dragging his country towards autocracy. This double standard is striking.

Particularly in its migration policy, the Greek government is in gross violation of international law and the European acquis. The Greek police, empowered by Mitsotakis, are brutalizing refugees trying to cross from Turkey to Europe through Greece. Thousands of refugees apprehended by Greek security forces in the last two years have been beaten, kicked, mistreated and forced to return to Turkey. Refugees who try to cross the Aegean Sea in makeshift inflatable boats are chased back to Turkey from the middle of the sea or forced to "die" in the middle of the sea by using force against refugees, at the cost of having their boats punctured. These actions of the Greek police, completely devoid of humanitarian values, are "unheard" in European capitals. Since the illegal actions of the police and their crimes against refugees are carried out under the protection of the Greek government, no one is held accountable and they get away with violence. In Greece, it is simply "forbidden" to film and document violence against refugees. Those who document such crimes are under intense pressure.

Greek Pressure on Civil Society Organization Josoor

Josoor is a non-profit, self-governing organization registered in Austria and brings together a team from different backgrounds and countries around the world. Our small and flexible field teams provide emergency aid and support to people affected by the current EU border regime.

According to a report by Der Spiegel, Josoor, an Austrian-based non-governmental organization, works to help refugees in Europe, especially those who have been excluded from Europe, who face mistreatment in countries such as Greece, and who are forced to return to Turkey. Josoor is also currently overwhelmed by the severe pressure and mistreatment by the Greek authorities. This NGO, which recently had to suspend its activities in Greece, does not hide the fact that it suffers a lot from this situation, but it struggles to make its voice heard in Europe. 

Other similar NGOs and aid organizations are also suffering from mistreatment by Greek institutions. Some members of aid organizations have even been found guilty by the Greek government of "aiding and abetting migrants" and some have been detained by Greek police. 

Der Spiegel Reporter Accused of Being a Turkish Spy

After Der Spiegel published a report last week that Greek authorities had refused to help a five-year-old Syrian girl who was dying on an island in the Evros River, which marks part of the Turkish-Greek border, the Athens government refrained from any self-criticism. Instead, it chose to blame Christides for allegedly using illegal methods to contact the victim's family. 

According to the magazine, Der Spiegel reporter Giorgos Christides was subjected to a smear and lynch campaign in the pro-government Greek media as a Turkish agent.

Greece considers itself the cradle of democracy, but Mitsotakis and his government do not hesitate to resort to autocratic methods. Some European media outlets continue to document Greece's actions of "refusing refugees into the country and sending them back to Turkey through forced measures". The European Anti-Corruption Agency also confirms the veracity of such documents. Nevertheless, the Greek government refuses to admit that it forcibly sent refugees back, pretending that there is no such thing. Greece ranks last among EU member states in Reporters Without Borders' Press Freedom Index. According to a Reuters poll, only 7 percent of Greeks say the media is free in their country.

Is the EU's tacit support for Greek refugee policy sustainable?

Brussels continues to turn a blind eye to Mitsotakis' anti-democratic stance on refugees, sometimes even welcoming it. During a visit to the Evros River in 2020, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen referred to Greece as "Europe's shield". And EU member states are secretly pleased that Greek border guards are turning back asylum seekers, no matter what method they use.

When German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited Athens in July this year, she told her Greek counterpart that the Greek government must clarify its accusations of forcibly sending refugees back to Turkey. While Baerbock seemed determined, this call was little more than a platitude. However, if the EU takes its norms seriously, shouldn't it now initiate infringement procedures against Greece?