The Coast Guard Command rescued 194 irregular migrants who were illegally pushed to the Turkish side by Greek forces in the Aegean Sea, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday.
A Turkish navy drone recorded footage of Greek forces pushing a boat carrying the migrants to the coast of Çeşme in Izmir province, the ministry said on Twitter. It added that the situation was immediately reported to the Turkish Coast Guard Command and the migrants were rescued.
Meanwhile, the coast guard units saved the lives of 188 others off Urla and Çeşme districts between Monday and Tuesday, the service said.
The migrants were moved to the provincial migration office.
Turkey has repeatedly condemned Greece's illegal practice of pushing back asylum-seekers, stating it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children.
In recent years, hundreds of thousands have made short but perilous journeys across the Aegean to reach northern and western Europe in search of a better life.
Hundreds of people have died at sea as many boats carrying refugees sank or capsized. The Turkish Coast Guard Command has rescued thousands of others.
Turkey and Greece are key transit points for migrants looking to cross into Europe, fleeing war and persecution to start new lives. Turkey has accused Greece of large-scale pushbacks, summary deportations and denying migrants access to asylum procedures, which is a violation of international law. Ankara also accuses the EU of turning a blind eye to this blatant abuse of human rights.
