Adonis Georgiadis: “Illegal immigration is a global criminal enterprise”

Greek Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis publicly expressed support for his brother, Thanos Plevris, after criticism from the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders.

In a social media post, Georgiadis declared himself “proud” of Plevris, stressing that “illegal immigration is a vast global criminal enterprise” and that the so-called “pseudo-humanitarianism” of international actors does not reflect the concerns of European citizens.

The UN’s reaction

UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor had earlier raised concerns over the Ministry of Migration’s stance toward certain NGOs, stressing that “human rights defenders should be supported, not targeted.”

Migration figures

• In Greece, arrivals in 2023 reached 48,721, a 159% increase compared to 2022.
• In 2024, asylum registrations amounted to 73,688.
• Across the EU, 380,000 irregular border crossings were recorded in 2023 — the highest since 2016.
• In 2024, crossings dropped to around 239,000, yet 3,812 deaths in the Mediterranean highlighted the persistent dangers of sea routes.

The political stakes

The Georgiadis–UN clash underscores a fundamental dilemma at the heart of Europe’s migration debate:

• Strict border control and crackdown on smugglers.
• Respect for human rights and international law.

By siding openly with Plevris, Adonis Georgiadis placed the issue squarely at the center of the political agenda, intensifying the debate over Greece’s and Europe’s migration strategy.

Adonis Georgiadis’s intervention was not just an act of brotherly support. It was a political statement: tolerance for mass migration is wearing thin, and governments are under pressure to act more decisively.

Yet, labeling migration as a “criminal enterprise” risks demonizing people fleeing war, persecution, and poverty.

Europe must navigate between two truths:

• No society can endure uncontrolled migration flows.
• No democracy survives without upholding international law and human rights.

The solution will not come from slogans or denial of reality. What is needed is realism with humanity — and that may be Europe’s most difficult balancing act.

Όπως όλοι γνωρίζετε ο @thanosplevris είναι αδελφός μου. Τον αγαπώ και τον υποστηρίζω και τον πιστεύω. Αλλά σήμερα είμαι Υπερήφανος! Μεγαλύτερη τιμή από την ενόχληση αυτή της κυρίας για τις δηλώσεις του δεν θα μπορούσε να υπάρξει: https://t.co/7KZz2qEu7R Η κυρία αυτή και όλο οι…

— Άδωνις Γεωργιάδης (@AdonisGeorgiadi) August 22, 2025