61. In the section for foreign nationals held under criminal charges, the delegation met 26 men – one being accompanied by his 15-year-old son (see paragraph 64) – who were crammed into the nine cells, each holding up to three or four persons, with one or two persons sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Cells, mattresses and blankets were filthy, and persons complained about the presence of cockroaches and bed bugs. In some cells, the artificial lights were broken and none of the cells was equipped with a call bell. Hygiene conditions in the sanitary annexes in this section were in a deplorable state – of the two toilets, one was out of order and the other had a broken flush but continued to be used by detained persons, and the two showers and one sink were broken. The men alleged that they were not granted ready access to the toilet and had to wait at times for up to two hours until a police officer opened the cell, which resulted in them at times having to urinate out of the cell window. Further, several persons had been held in these cells for more than 10 days without access to a shower and without having been provided with hygiene products. Such a situation is unacceptable and could be considered as amounting to inhuman and degrading treatment. Persons also complained that they were not granted access to outdoor exercise and to a doctor, despite repeated requests. It thus follows that the cells were unsuitable for holding persons for periods exceeding 24 hours. However, persons were detained in these conditions for periods of up to 12 days, until the completion of their criminal proceedings. Further, the delegation was informed that the detention area was regularly overcrowded when many foreign nationals would arrive at Athens Airport at the same time.18 62. By letter of 19 January 2024, the Greek authorities indicated that in case of overcrowding, efforts were being made to transfer and redistribute detained persons to other detention facilities, which had obviously been ineffective at the time of the visit. Further, a request for the repair of the damages of the sanitary facilities had been submitted. In light of this, the CPT recommends that the Greek authorities ensure that the number of persons held at Athens Airport Special holding facility at any time does not exceed the establishment’s capacity and that persons are detained in decent and clean conditions. Alternative solutions should be envisaged in the case of increased arrivals of foreign nationals. The Committee also wishes to receive the confirmation that the sanitary facilities in the section for persons held under criminal charges have effectively been repaired and that these persons are always granted prompt access to the toilets. 63. In the other section for inadmissible persons, asylum seekers and families, the material conditions were slightly better. The dormitories were in an acceptable state of cleanliness, but mattresses had not been cleaned, and blankets were infested with bed bugs. The sanitary facilities were rather dirty, and one of the showers was broken. There were no activities on offer and persons were not granted access to fresh air. The conditions of detention at the facility thus remained suitable for holding foreign nationals for short periods only. However, the 26 men and one woman applying for international protection could be held in this section for periods of up to 28 days (counting from the day of the registration of their claim), which might be prolonged if the person submitted an appeal. 64. At the time of the visit, two women had been held with their three children, including a toddler, in the “special room for the care of infants”, without any activities and toys, child-appropriate food, non-food items such as diapers, or access to fresh air. One woman had been held there with her two children for one month. There was no support or care whatsoever on offer for the children and their parents. There is also no justification for holding a 15-year-old child together with his father in the section for criminal suspects under the above-described appalling conditions. As acknowledged by the management, Athens Airport Special holding facility is entirely inappropriate for detaining children. 18. Between January and November 2023, 1 285 persons were held under criminal charges and 237 persons applied for international protection. 19