The Ministry issued this statement in the Greek Parliament following a question by Golden Dawn MP Elias Kasidiaris, who complained that in 2012 virtual civil marriages between Bulgarian and Romanian women (currently living in Greece) with Pakistani and Syrian illegal migrants, in many areas of Greece. Kasidiaris said this was being conducted so that the undocumented migrants can be identified as spouses of EU citizens and, as such, remain legally in the country. In fact, the MP also pointed out that there is an organized circuit that is coordinating this whole operation and issuing illegal and forged documents so that such marriages can occur.
Athanassiou said that he has given clear instructions to authorities, or those responsible for issuing such marriage licences, that they have to immediately communicate with the Polce Department for Foreign Nationals. Once a thorough investigation has been made, added the Deputy Minister, and if evidence such as fraud or forgery emerges, then all necessary measures will be taken.
Adding to this new controversy, Public Order Minister Nikos Dendias said that following an investigation conducted by the Pierias Police Department recently, some 22 cases of such "virtual" marriage licenses -involving foreign nationals with European citizens- have been revoked because they indeed involved such forged documents. At the same time all residence permits were also rejected and deportation orders have been given. The Minister also noted that the illegal migrants in the above case, will now be documented in a National List of undesirable migrants as well. Dendias then revealed that other investigations -of such "marriages"- are also occurring in areas such as Rethymnon and Chania and stated that orders have been given to competent authorities to intensify all actions.
Article in Greek - iefimerida
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