MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Council of Europe (CoE) recommended the Macedonian border police on Wednesday to undergo human rights training, following multiple reports that officers are maltreating refugees on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia border.
"The Special Representative [on Migration and Refugees of the Council of Europe’s Secretary General] was concerned at reports of push-backs and allegations of ill-treatment by those guarding the border of 'the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.' He recommended human rights training for all relevant personnel," a press release to the Council's latest report on the situation on the Macedonian-Greek frontier said.
Europe has been beset by a massive refugee crisis, with hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants fleeing their crisis-torn countries of origin to escape violence and poverty.
Macedonia closed its border with Greece to incoming migrants in February after other countries along the Balkan route had closed their frontiers, including Serbia, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia and Austria. The border closures have resulted in thousands of refugees being stranded in Greece, particularly along the border with Macedonia.
