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The right to liberty is also protected under the
Awab, quarantined on Chios in winter 2021
ECHR Article 5. According to the ECtHR’s inter-
The fact that the Chios RIS concluded that the
pretation of the Article, a detention must sur-
quarantine in Lefkonia did not constitute de-
pass a mere “restriction of liberty” and amount
tention is irrelevant. Those quarantined on
to a deprivation of liberty. The ECtHR has held
Chios are confined for, at minimum, five days,
that the “difference between deprivation and
without their consent at the behest of the state.
restriction of liberty is one of degree or intensity,
On Chios, police place persons in quarantine
and not one of nature or substance.” Thus, an
whether they test positive for COVID-19 and
individual assessment must be made in each
guard them for the duration, with RIS employ-
case, taking into account “a whole range of cri-
ees also present in the facilities. The Lefkonia
teria” including “type, duration, effects and
building has three sectors where different
manner of implementation.” In particular, the
groups of persons quarantined together are
duration and foreseeability of the deprivation of
held. Those interviewed stated that they are not
liberty can be dispositive as to whether there ex-
allowed to leave their assigned sectors, with
ists a restriction or deprivation. Whether the
locked doors, walls, and police blocking such
deprivation of liberty takes place in a detention
center as well as the ordering authority’s opinion as to whether a deprivation exists is irrelevant. While the analysis is case by case, in an
instance concerning one member state’s forced
placement of an individual in a psychiatric facility which the state argued was not a detention,
the Court found the following three factors to be
decisive:
movement. Those interviewed said that they
are not even allowed to go outside for recreation.
Those in quarantine are deprived of their freedom of movement within the quarantine. People in Chios were confined to the separate
sectors which either consisted of small rooms
shared amongst 7-10 people or one indoor auditorium. In only some circumstances are they allowed to leave their assigned sector. For
(1) Confinement in a particular place for a not
example, three persons who were quarantined
negligible period of time (the objective element)
in small rooms at the same time in Chios in win-
(2) Lack of valid consent (the subjective element)
ter 2022 stated that they typically had around
(3) Attribution of responsibility to the state (i.e.,
one hour for recreational activities in the audi-
where the state knows or ought to know).
torium sector every one to three days. However,
As compared to the facts on Chios, the quarantine would constitute a detention under the EU
law, Greek law, and the ECHR.
this opportunity was due to the fact that the auditorium, typically used as a quarantine overflow, was not in use at the time. Thus, it is not a
pattern of practice that applicants are able to
“It was like a prison... It was a room, and we were
visit other areas of the quarantine. Additionally,
just staying in that room … The door [to the building]
those quarantined have no access to lawyers
is locked. But even if you could open the door, there
and can only go for medical appointments if ac-
are police standing there guarding the exit.” -
companied by police. Police constantly surveil
‘Quarantine of Asylum Seeker’ – A legal classification of the quarantine practice on Chios