Page 23 of 46 Retribution against Human Rights Defenders: Several NGOs working on migration stated they faced intimidation by authorities, including increased scrutiny regarding financial records. Many attributed this to their reporting of pushbacks and mistreatment of migrants and asylum seekers by law enforcement. Some NGOs reported disproportionate difficulties obtaining legal status and access to financial benefits such as tax exemptions. The law required NGOs conducting search-and-rescue operations in areas under coast guard jurisdiction to be registered and to act only when the coast guard was unable to intervene. Persons convicted of violating this law were subject to one to three years’ imprisonment and fines. On January 25, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Mary Lawlor publicly called pending criminal charges against human rights defenders Panayote Dimitras of Greek Helsinki Monitor and Tommy Olsen of the Aegean Boat Report “arbitrary.” In late 2022, both activists were charged with “forming or joining for profit and by profession a criminal organization with the purpose of facilitating the entry and stay of third country nationals into Greek territory.” In January a judicial council banned Dimitras from carrying out his NGO’s activities and communicating with “irregularly entering foreigners.” Lawlor called these restrictions “very disturbing.” In May media alleged the Anti-Money Laundering Authority had frozen Dimitras’ personal and business assets, including those of his NGO, on grounds he had been misusing his NGO’s EU grant funding. Dimitras denied the allegations and claimed he was the victim of a smear campaign. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2023 United States Department of State • Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor