to 27 March 2023,954 even though restrictive measures in the context of the pandemic had largely stopped being applied to the rest of the population.955 Following a controversial press briefing on the Government’s operational plan for responding to the refugee issue, on 20 November 2019,956 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,957 as well as GCR and other civil society actors,958 and local communities in Greece, who have on several occasions continued to display their opposition to the creation of new centres on the islands and the containment of asylum applicants there.959 Notwithstanding, throughout 2023, people residing in the CCACs 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). They also remain subject to strict entry-exit measures, such as having to undergo security controls (metal detectors and/or physical controls), and to being under an obligation to comply with permitted hours of exit and (re)entry, and with an obligation to stay in the CCAC during the night. Non-compliance with these obligations can inter alia lead to the reduction and/or withdrawal of material reception conditions in accordance with article 61 Asylum Code.960 As of 31 December 2023,961 16,139 persons remained on the Eastern Aegean islands, more than 3 times higher compared to the same day in the previous year (4,735).962 Of those, 46 were in detention in police cells in Lesvos, Kos and other islands, and in the Pre-Removal Detention Centre (PRDC) of Kos, while the nominal capacity of the CCACs on all five islands stood at 17,737 (12% increase compared to December 2022, when capacity stood at 15,790 places). More precisely, the figures reported by the National Coordination Centre for Border Control, Immigration and Asylum, under the Ministry of Citizen Protection, were as follows: 954 955 956 957 958 959 960 961 962 JMD Δ1α/ΓΠ.οικ.15102/10.3.2023 on the “Extension of the Joint Ministerial Decision Δ1α/ΓΠ.οικ.5432/27.1.2023 (Β' 389) regarding emergency measures to protect public health from the risk of further spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 in the whole of the Territory until Monday, 27 March 2023 at 06:00”, available in Greek at: https://bit.ly/3w9lrI4, in conjunction with JMD Δ1α/ΓΠ.οικ.5432/27.1.2023 and Annex II therein. For more, see AIDA, Country Report Greece: 2022 Update, June 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/45vXAir, p. 165. Greek Government, Political Press Briefing – the Government’s Operational Plan for dealing with the migrant issue, 20 November 2019, available in Greek 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/489ITCn; The Guardian, Aid groups condemn Greece over 'prison' camps for migrants, 25 November 2019, available at: https://bit.ly/2S4YXzW. For instance, Coordinating Committee of the Elected Officials - Residents Of Chios, We will not allow the islands to become prisons for souls, 902.gr, 5 July 2023, available in Greek at: https://tinyurl.com/yzts4rwe; Ethnos, Lesvos: Residents' reactions to the new migrant structure, 8 February 2022, available in Greek at: https://bit.ly/3xS67jw; 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 in Greek at: https://bit.ly/3t2kiuc and GCR, SCI, Greece, Advocacy update: March-April 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/2SNIsw2, pp. 4-5. Articles 6 and 9 of Decision 553695/2023 of the General Secretary for Reception of Asylum Seeker of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum regarding the General Regulation for the Operation of Closed Controlled Facilities, 31 December 2023. As per article 9 of the same decision, the allowed hours of exit and (re)entry, which in practice largely mirror those imposed under previous measures aimed at combating spread of the coronavirus, are specified by a Decision of the Director of the RIS. Yet up to the time of writing it hasn’t been possible to find said Decision. National Coordination Centre for border Control, Immigration and Asylum, National Situational Picture regarding the Islands at Eastern Aegean Sea (31/12/2023), 1 January 2024, available at: https://bit.ly/3OFlP83. National Coordination Centre for Border Control, Immigration and Asylum, Situational Picture in the Eastern Aegean 31.12.2022, 1 January 2023, available in Greek at: https://bit.ly/45kpuOq. 192