The ministries of justice, defence and migration and international protection stated on Wednesday that they strongly rejected allegations of illegal pushbacks and the use of force against migrants at sea.

The government insisted that it operates strictly within international law and has never ignored distress calls. The joint statement aimed to clarify the details of three separate search and rescue operations conducted over the past week.

Authorities confirmed that two survivors and seven bodies were recovered on March 17, during a search coordinated by the joint rescue coordination centre (JRCC) from a capsized boat believed to be carrying around 21 Syrian migrants. No other bodies have yet been found.

However, they stated that the victims could not be linked to a separate distress call made on Sunday. The government categorically denied claims that Cyprus had used firearms, water cannons, or forced returns at sea, calling such accusations “unacceptable”.

The statement also highlighted Cyprus’ long-standing commitment to international protection, noting that the country had granted asylum to around 18,000 foreign nationals in the last decade and is internationally recognised for the conditions in its reception centres.

Cypriot authorities provided details of the three maritime incidents, insisting that they were unrelated.
The most recent incident occurred on Monday, when a patrol by the marine and port police, coordinated by the joint rescue coordination centre (JRCC), discovered two survivors and seven bodies at sea. No vessel was found at the scene, and authorities stated that investigations were ongoing.

The previous day, on Sunday, the NGO alarm phone alerted the authorities to a group in distress at sea. In response, the JRCC launched extensive air and sea searches across 1,000 square nautical miles. However, no vessels or individuals were located, and even the alarm phone later acknowledged that there was no connection between this distress call and Monday’s discovery.

Another earlier incident on March 13-14 involved two boats in an area near Lebanese waters, outside Cyprus’ territorial jurisdiction. In this case, the JRCC coordinated efforts with Lebanon, which took charge of the situation. Authorities have described social media claims about this incident as misleading and based on unverified sources.

Cyprus also expressed deep concern over human smuggling networks, which it said put lives at risk by using unsafe boats.

“We are devastated by the tragic loss of life,” the statement read.

“It is our collective duty to tackle the criminal networks profiting from human suffering and placing people in grave danger.”

The government reiterated that Cyprus operates within the bounds of international law and has never ignored distress calls at sea.

Despite Cyprus’ firm denials, the UN refugee agency has raised serious concerns over an alleged pushback incident on March 14. According to UNHCR, three boats carrying around 80 Syrian nationals, including women and children, had reached Cyprus but were forcibly returned to Syria by Cypriot authorities. The agency stated that the individuals had fled Syria and claimed that their forced return violated international law.

In a statement, UNHCR urged states to avoid pushbacks and summary returns, highlighting that such actions violate non-refoulement obligations. Non-refoulement is a fundamental principle in international law that prohibits returning individuals to a country where they could face persecution or serious harm. Even states not party to relevant treaties, UNHCR emphasised, must respect this principle.

The UNHCR further warned that denying access to territory or removing individuals without assessing their risks violates international obligations. It also called on governments to ensure that maritime operations comply with refugee and human rights laws, stressing that Syrians fleeing their country should not be returned to any part of Syria due to the ongoing instability.

While some view Syria as having entered a phase of recovery, UNHCR noted that the security situation remains unstable and many Syrians do not feel safe to return.

As the situation in Syria remains precarious, the future of those seeking refuge in Europe remains uncertain. Authorities continue to investigate Monday’s shipwreck as search operations remain underway to locate any additional victims.