A German investigation has uncovered alleged Belarusian involvement in organizing and facilitating the smuggling of irregular migrants to Greece through Libya, raising serious concerns about European security and the growing use of migration as a geopolitical pressure tool. The findings were published by the German newspaper Die Zeit following a joint investigation with public broadcasters WDR and NDR.
According to the investigation, there has been a sharp rise in migrant departures from eastern Libya toward Greece in recent months, particularly toward the island of Crete. European security agencies increasingly believe that parts of these migration flows are not solely driven by economic hardship or conflict, but are being deliberately engineered by external actors using Libya as a key transit point.
The report states that migrants are being transported by air from Belarus to eastern Libya, where established smuggling networks coordinate their onward movement across the Mediterranean. From Libya’s eastern coastline, migrants are then directed toward Greek waters, marking a notable shift away from traditional Central Mediterranean routes toward Italy.
European officials have warned that Belarus, potentially with Russian backing, may be exploiting migration to exert political pressure on the European Union. While both Minsk and Moscow have denied such allegations, security officials cited in the investigation argue that the emerging patterns resemble previous migration crises along the EU’s eastern borders.
Figures referenced in the report indicate that around 17,000 migrants had arrived on Crete by early December, according to data from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The sharp increase highlights a significant transformation in Mediterranean migration routes and places added strain on Greek reception and border management systems.
The investigation has also renewed criticism of maritime interception practices in the region. Testimonies from survivors who reached Greece allege that Greek coast guard units attempted to forcibly tow migrant boats toward Italian waters, actions they say led to vessel instability and, in some cases, fatal sinkings. Similar scrutiny continues to surround the conduct of Libyan maritime forces involved in interception operations.
European security officials warn that the situation could worsen in early 2026 without a coordinated and unified response. They caution that Libya risks becoming a central launch point for manipulated migration flows, intensifying humanitarian dangers, political tensions, and instability across the Mediterranean.
