At least five migrants and a Greek motorist were killed in a car crash on a highway near the border between Greece and Turkey, on Saturday (April 15), the local police told the news agency AFP. The car, in question, was carrying 10 migrants when&nbsp;it met with an accident with another vehicle that had a&nbsp;46-year-old driver, who was also killed, at the wheels.&nbsp;

According to the report, the car was carrying migrants whose nationalities were not immediately clear, and was travelling at a high speed on the wrong side of the road to avoid a police checkpoint when it slammed into a four-wheeler, whose driver was also killed, as per media reports. Meanwhile, the other five migrants and the driver were taken to the hospital after sustaining injuries, said the police.&nbsp;

Recently, Greece has witnessed a surge in the number of accidents similar to the one that took place on Saturday. This comes as the Greek authorities have ramped up patrols in the Aegean Sea which has reportedly made it more difficult for migrants to cross River Evros to reach the islands which has since led traffickers to take them&nbsp;by road.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/up-to-50-missing-after-migrant-boat-sinks-off-greece-505620">Up to 50 missing after migrant boat sinks off Greece</a>

Earlier this year, Greece said it prevented around 260,000 migrants from crossing its border with Turkey in 2022. At the time, Turkey had said that it adhered to international law, but if a migrant qualifies for refugee status they cannot be accused of having broken the law by crossing a border.&nbsp;

Athens does not have the best record when it comes to the issues relating to migrants, as many human rights organisations have accused Greek officials of illegal pushback and sending them back to Turkey. Athens has steadfastly denied these claims.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-2022-more-than-45000-migrants-cross-english-channel-to-reach-uk-from-europe-548536">In 2022, more than 45,000 migrants crossed English Channel to reach UK from Europe</a>

However, in a bid to reduce the flow of migrants, conservative Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, earlier this month urged the European Union to “seriously consider” providing financial aid to help extend an anti-migrant steel fence along the border with Turkey. 
 
The fence, in question, is a five-metre high steel barrier, currently 38 kilometres long and Athens wants to extend it by 35 kilometres and add a total of 100 kilometres, in the next three years.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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At least five migrants and a Greek motorist were killed in a car crash on a highway near the border between Greece and Turkey, on Saturday (April 15), the local police told the news agency AFP.

At least five migrants and a Greek motorist were killed in a car crash on a highway near the border between Greece and Turkey, on Saturday (April 15), the local police told the news agency AFP. The car, in question, was carrying 10 migrants when it met with an accident with another vehicle that had a 46-year-old driver, who was also killed, at the wheels. According to the report, the car was carrying migrants whose nationalities were not immediately clear, and was travelling at a high speed on the wrong side of the road to avoid a police checkpoint when it slammed into a four-wheeler, whose driver was also killed, as per media reports. Meanwhile, the other five migrants and the driver were taken to the hospital after sustaining injuries, said the police. Recently, Greece has witnessed a surge in the number of accidents similar to the one that took place on Saturday. This comes as the Greek authorities have ramped up patrols in the Aegean Sea which has reportedly made it more difficult for migrants to cross River Evros to reach the islands which has since led traffickers to take them by road. ALSO READ | Up to 50 missing after migrant boat sinks off Greece Earlier this year, Greece said it prevented around 260,000 migrants from crossing its border with Turkey in 2022. At the time, Turkey had said that it adhered to international law, but if a migrant qualifies for refugee status they cannot be accused of having broken the law by crossing a border. Athens does not have the best record when it comes to the issues relating to migrants, as many human rights organisations have accused Greek officials of illegal pushback and sending them back to Turkey. Athens has steadfastly denied these claims. ALSO READ | In 2022, more than 45,000 migrants crossed English Channel to reach UK from Europe However, in a bid to reduce the flow of migrants, conservative Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, earlier this month urged the European Union to “seriously consider” providing financial aid to help extend an anti-migrant steel fence along the border with Turkey. The fence, in question, is a five-metre high steel barrier, currently 38 kilometres long and Athens wants to extend it by 35 kilometres and add a total of 100 kilometres, in the next three years. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Five migrants, one Greek motorist killed in car accident near Greece-Turkey border

As he toured the country's newest island migrant camp on Friday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that his country's tougher maritime and land border patrols had essentially crushed illegal migrant networks.

Despite charges from activists that the Greek coastguard is forcing migrants' boats illegally back to Turkey, Mitsotakis said his government was guarding its borders "safely and justly."&nbsp;

"Migration flows are down 90 percent compared to 2019. I repeat, 90 percent," Mitsotakis said during a visit to a new EU-funded migrant camp on the island of Samos.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-says-cannot-become-gateway-to-european-union-for-fleeing-afghans-408759">Greece says cannot become gateway to European Union for fleeing Afghans</a>

"We have essentially crushed smuggling networks that take advantage of human pain...promising persecuted people easy entry into our homeland," Mitsotakis said.

"This government has carried out its pledge to guard our homeland's borders safely and justly," he said.

Border patrols have risen since Mitsotakis became premier in 2019, and asylum processes have been sped up. Critics say this puts asylum seekers at a disadvantage, and general benefits for refugees, even those who have been granted asylum, have been slashed.

Among the many criticisms of Greece's harsher border controls have been allegations that its coastguard is illegally forcing migrants to return to Turkey,&nbsp;the main departure point,&nbsp;on rickety ships.

Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-extends-border-wall-to-shut-doors-to-afghan-refugees-407454">Greece extends border wall to shut doors to Afghan refugees</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;

Athens has consistently denied the charges, stating that saving the lives of seafarers is the coastguard's top priority.

"No one has drowned in the Aegean this year, and I’m particularly proud of the work that my coastguard is doing in saving people at risk," Mitsotakis said this week.

In July, the Greek migration ministry said at least seven people had drowned near Kasos island, south of the Aegean Sea.

"This needless tragedy is what happens when Turkey fails to act against the criminal gangs and prevent these perilous crossings," the Greek ministry said at the time.

The Samos camp, designed to house 3,000 people, is part of several high-tech facilities funded by the European Union on Greek islands that saw the biggest arrivals from neighbouring Turkey during the migration crisis of 2015.

Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-cannot-take-new-refugee-burden-foreign-minister-says-409265">Turkey cannot take new refugee burden, foreign minister says</a>

International Organization for Migration reports that about 800,000 people migrated through Greece in that period.

EU has committed 276 million euros ($323 million) to build new camps with stricter access measures on Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Leros, and Kos in the Aegean Sea.

As he toured the country's newest island migrant camp on Friday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that his country's tougher maritime and land border patrols had essentially crushed illegal migrant networks.

As he toured the country's newest island migrant camp on Friday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that his country's tougher maritime and land border patrols had essentially crushed illegal migrant networks. Despite charges from activists that the Greek coastguard is forcing migrants' boats illegally back to Turkey, Mitsotakis said his government was guarding its borders "safely and justly." "Migration flows are down 90 percent compared to 2019. I repeat, 90 percent," Mitsotakis said during a visit to a new EU-funded migrant camp on the island of Samos. Also read | Greece says cannot become gateway to European Union for fleeing Afghans "We have essentially crushed smuggling networks that take advantage of human pain...promising persecuted people easy entry into our homeland," Mitsotakis said. "This government has carried out its pledge to guard our homeland's borders safely and justly," he said. Border patrols have risen since Mitsotakis became premier in 2019, and asylum processes have been sped up. Critics say this puts asylum seekers at a disadvantage, and general benefits for refugees, even those who have been granted asylum, have been slashed. Among the many criticisms of Greece's harsher border controls have been allegations that its coastguard is illegally forcing migrants to return to Turkey, the main departure point, on rickety ships. Also read | Greece extends border wall to shut doors to Afghan refugees Athens has consistently denied the charges, stating that saving the lives of seafarers is the coastguard's top priority. "No one has drowned in the Aegean this year, and I’m particularly proud of the work that my coastguard is doing in saving people at risk," Mitsotakis said this week. In July, the Greek migration ministry said at least seven people had drowned near Kasos island, south of the Aegean Sea. "This needless tragedy is what happens when Turkey fails to act against the criminal gangs and prevent these perilous crossings," the Greek ministry said at the time. The Samos camp, designed to house 3,000 people, is part of several high-tech facilities funded by the European Union on Greek islands that saw the biggest arrivals from neighbouring Turkey during the migration crisis of 2015. Also read | Turkey cannot take new refugee burden, foreign minister says International Organization for Migration reports that about 800,000 people migrated through Greece in that period. EU has committed 276 million euros ($323 million) to build new camps with stricter access measures on Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Leros, and Kos in the Aegean Sea.

Even as activists accuse country of illegal deportation, Greek PM says 'essentially crushed' migrant smugglers

Two Greek citizens have been arrested and will be facing charges for espionage for working against Turkey on the southeastern island of Rhodes.

Out of the two suspects, one of them had been operating from a ferry from the&nbsp;Rhodes to the Greek island of Kastellorizo, just off the Turkish coast, and the second was reportedly employed at the Turkish consulate in Rhodes.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-greece-turkey-are-fighting-over-hydrocarbons-in-mediterranean-sea-320304">Why Greece, Turkey are fighting over hydrocarbons in Mediterranean Sea</a>

The two were arrested after a secret investigation that was "conducted in close cooperation with the Greek National Intelligence Service, EYP," the Greek police said in a statement.

As of now, it has been alleged that the first suspect, who was working on a ferry, was responsible for reporting the position of the Greek Navy ships and providing all other relevant and secret information about the Greek forces to the other suspect who was stationed on the islands.

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While the charges have not been proven yet, the two are being believed to have spied on Turkey consciously. Further involvements of international groups or governments has not been established yet.

The matter has also gained attention as the island of&nbsp;Kastellorizo, which is 1.2 miles off the Turkish coast, is situated in disputed waters which has been a reason of escalation of tensions between Greece and Turkey for the past few years.

Two Greek citizens have been arrested and will be facing charges for espionage for working against Turkey on the southeastern island of Rhodes. Out of the two suspects, one of them had been operating from a ferry from the Rhodes to the Greek island of Kastellorizo, just off the Turkish coast, and the second was reportedly employed at the Turkish consulate in Rhodes.

Two Greek citizens have been arrested and will be facing charges for espionage for working against Turkey on the southeastern island of Rhodes. Out of the two suspects, one of them had been operating from a ferry from the Rhodes to the Greek island of Kastellorizo, just off the Turkish coast, and the second was reportedly employed at the Turkish consulate in Rhodes. Also read| Why Greece, Turkey are fighting over hydrocarbons in Mediterranean Sea The two were arrested after a secret investigation that was "conducted in close cooperation with the Greek National Intelligence Service, EYP," the Greek police said in a statement. As of now, it has been alleged that the first suspect, who was working on a ferry, was responsible for reporting the position of the Greek Navy ships and providing all other relevant and secret information about the Greek forces to the other suspect who was stationed on the islands. × While the charges have not been proven yet, the two are being believed to have spied on Turkey consciously. Further involvements of international groups or governments has not been established yet. The matter has also gained attention as the island of Kastellorizo, which is 1.2 miles off the Turkish coast, is situated in disputed waters which has been a reason of escalation of tensions between Greece and Turkey for the past few years.

Greek citizens charged for spying on Turkey

Tensions continue to escalate between Greece and Turkey over the latter's gas exploration initiatives in the eastern Mediterranean. Watch report.

Greece-Turkey crisis continues: Hotline will be set up to avoid clashes

The Greek government has welcomed a Turkish survey vessel's return to port from a disputed area of the eastern Mediterranean that has been at the heart of a summer stand-off between Greece and Turkey over energy rights.

Turkish survey vessel returns to port: Greece welcomes return of vessel