In March 2020, following the breakout of the global COVID-19 pandemic, those residing in RICs and camps became subject to disproportionate restrictions of their freedom of movement in the context of measures aimed at restricting the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.772 These restrictions have continued being renewed up to December 2022, even though restrictive measures in the context of the pandemic had largely stopped being applied for the rest of the population. The latest JMD for 2022,773 which was issued on 31 December, replicating wording available in previous such decisions, and with application to the RICs, CCACs, Controlled Temporary Accommodation Centres and more broadly facilities hosting third country nationals throughout the country’s territory, inter alia maintains: 1) ‘The possibility of circulation of third country nationals residing in the RICs, CCACs and other accommodation facilities throughout the territory strictly within the respective perimeter that the Greek Police (EL.AS) will implement, in accordance with its operational planning.’ 2) ‘’Every day and from 7:00 to 21:00, representatives of families or groups of people staying in the RICs, CCACs and other accommodation facilities for third country nationals are given the opportunity to travel to the nearest urban centres to meet their needs. In areas where it is possible to travel by public transport, this shall be done without causing confusion on the means of transport concerned. The control of the above measures is carried out by personnel of the EL.AS.’ Following a controversial press briefing on the Government’s operational plan for responding to the refugee issue, on 20 November 2019,774 it was announced that the island RICs would be transformed into Closed Reception and Identification Centres that would simultaneously function as Pre-Removal Detention Centres and which would have a capacity of at least 18,000 places. The announcements inter alia raised serious concerns and were condemned by a wide array of actors, including members of the European Parliament – who addressed an open letter to the Justice and Home Affairs Council – the CoE Commissioner for Human Rights,775 as well as GCR and other civil society actors, 776 and local communities in Greece, who have on several occasions continued to display their opposition to the creation of new centres on the islands. 777 Notwithstanding this, it should be mentioned that throughout 2019 people residing in the RICs continued to be subjected to a “geographical restriction”, based on which they are under an obligation not to leave the island and to reside in the RIC facility (see Freedom of Movement). Moreover, as mentioned, since March 2020, asylum seekers residing in RICs and mainland camps remain subject to a further and disproportionate restriction of their movement, in the context of measures aimed at countering the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. These disproportionate restrictions, with small variations, continued to be imposed, albeit implemented differently in different locations, up to the end of 2022. As per the latest relevant Joint Ministerial Decision issued as of the time of writing, covering the period between 30 772 773 774 775 776 777 Though measures for the general population have largely fluctuated throughout the year, also depending on the epidemiological actualities of each location, residents of RICs and camps have been consistently subject to a horizontal restriction of their movement between 7pm-7am, with representatives of families or groups only allowed exit the respective facilities in order to cover essential needs, as per consecutive Joint Ministerial Decisions issued since 21 March 2020. Amongst others, see HRW, ‘Greece Again Extends Covid-19 Lockdown at Refugee Camps’, 12 June 2020, available at: https://bit.ly/3fmYncl. JMD Δ1α/ΓΠ.οικ. 75297 on Emergency measures to protect public health against the risk of further spread of COVID-19 coronavirus in the whole territory from Sunday, 1 January 2023 at 06:00 until Monday, 30 January 2023 at 06:00, published on 31 December 2022, available in Greek at: https://bit.ly/3na7qVX, Annex II. Greek Government, ‘Political Press Briefing – the Government’s Operational Plan for dealing with the migrant issue’, 20 November 2019, available at: https://bit.ly/2RO2Kml. Council of Europe, ‘Commissioner seeks information from the Greek government on its plans to set-up closed reception centres on the Aegean islands’, 3 December 2019, available at: https://bit.ly/38X2GX4. For instance, see GCR, ‘The Greek Authorities announcements on the refugee issue are in contrast to national and international law’, 21 November 2019, available (in Greek) at: https://bit.ly/36Q4Oyu; The Guardian, ‘Aid groups condemn Greece over 'prison' camps for migrants’, 25 November 2019, available at: https://bit.ly/2S4YXzW. For instance, see ekathimerini, ‘More protests against new island centres on the way’, 10 January 2020, available at: https://bit.ly/31fwkEp; Efsyn, ‘The papers say one thing and N. Mitarakis says another’, 26 April 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/3t2kiuc and GCR - SCI, GREECE – ADVOCACY UPDATE: March-April 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/2SNIsw2, 4-5. 165