A/HRC/16/52/Add.4
experienced violence but there was an atmosphere of violence. The worst part was the lack
of hygiene, especially for the women and children. It was a psychological stress. She
witnessed them beat themselves against the cell walls, especially the ones who had been
here a long time. She had only been able to leave the cell on one occasion, when the cells
were painted. There was only cold water. She had been sick. A doctor had come to see her
in the cell. She was sent to the hospital and had to pay for the check-up. Two nights ago
there were 105 people in the cell, mostly Afghans and Pakistanis who, she said, were very
dirty.
Erdal Demir and Sayit Keskin, Kurds from Turkey, were arrested on 12 August and
detained in Feres Border Guard Station and then transferred to the Soufli facility. They had
made an asylum application in Feres. They paid a lawyer 600 Euros. He came to see them
and said they would be released but they have only seen Afghans and Pakistanis released.
50 Afghans and Pakistanis were released the previous day. Five days ago the cells were
painted.
Orestiada Police Station
Visited on 12 October 2010
The Special Rapporteur was received by Duty Officer Athanasios Akranas. The police
station had two cells holding five detainees and a shower and toilet for the detainees. The
facilities were clean and in an adequate state.
Individual cases
Vesko Slavev Atanasov, aged 42, and Dimitri Stefchev Karakolev, aged 30, from
Bulgaria, were arrested in Greece because they did not possess their car papers. They are
expecting to be expelled back to Bulgaria at the end of the week. They complain there is no
heat by night and that they could not take a shower. But they mention the officers are very
good and polite, and that they can make phone calls every day.
Nikolaus Hatzipavlou, aged 47, Greek national, was arrested for alleged smuggling of
persons. He stated to have been well treated during his arrest as well as his detention in
police custody. He also described the conditions of detention as adequate. He explained that
according to his experiences the treatment by police officers and the conditions in police
custody have significantly improved over the last decade. He wanted to be brought to a
remand prison in order to have access to exercise, a courtyard and activities, but the prisons
in the region were currently refusing detainees due to their overcrowding.
Fylakio Migration Detention Centre, Orestiada
Visited on 12 October 2010
The Special Rapporteur was received by the the head of the Center, Gavranidis Kyriakos.
The migration detention center was established specifically for the purpose of processing
and detaining irregular migrants crossing the Greek-Turkish border. The facility has a
capacity of 379 persons and was holding 486 detainees at the time of the visit. However,
reportedly the center often holds more than 550 detainees, particularly during the last six
months where reportedly up to 200 persons arrived daily at the center. It was comprised of
one big building for detention, a large yard with a metal container for the processing of the
new arrivals. The belongings of the new arrivals were stored in confiscated trucks in front
of the center. The building had 4 cells for men, separate cells for women, 1 cell for families
and 1 arrival cell. The center was severely understaffed with 11 officers per shift including
administrative staff. There was only one doctor working only weekdays at the facility.
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