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Frontex’s History of Handling Abuse Evidence Dogs Balkan Expansion

An exposé of Frontex´s refusal to end its participation in operations at the Hungarian-Serbian border, despite credible allegations of frequent abuse by border guards.
An exposé of Frontex´s refusal to end its participation in operations at the Hungarian-Serbian border, despite credible allegations of frequent abuse by border guards.

Internal documents reviewed by BIRN show that the head of Frontex rejected a recommendation in 2016 from the agency’s own compliance watchdog to suspend operations on the Hungarian-Serbian border amid concerns of complicity in rights violations by Hungarian officers.

Among the reported acts of brutality: the use of batons, teargas and pepper spray on asylum seekers — including children — and violent “pushbacks” of refugees and migrants into northern Serbia.

Meanwhile, as Frontex expands its footprint into non-EU countries in Southeast Europe, critics say agreements between the agency and Western Balkan governments will allow Frontex staff to operate with a worrying level of impunity for any wrongdoing.

Frontex’s History of Handling Abuse Evidence Dogs Balkan Expansion (Balkan Insight, link)