Norwegian Humanitarian Worker Arrested in Norway, Faces Extradition to Greece
Oslo, Norway – Tommy Olsen, founder of the Aegean Boat Report, a prominent NGO documenting migrant arrivals and distress cases in Greece, has been arrested in Norway at the request of Greek authorities. Amnesty International has condemned the arrest as part of a troubling escalation in Greece’s crackdown on individuals working to defend the rights of refugees and migrants.
Olsen, a Norwegian national, faces charges in Greece including forming and joining a criminal organization, smuggling, and facilitating irregular entry and residence. These charges stem from his work with the Aegean Boat Report, which began as a Facebook page in 2017 and became a registered NGO in 2018.
“Tommy Olsen’s arrest… stems from an alarming escalation of Greece’s crackdown on human rights defenders,” said Dinushika Dissanayake, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Europe, in a statement. “Based on information available to Amnesty International, Tommy Olsen and Panayote Dimitras are being prosecuted for their human rights work documenting serious human rights violations committed by the Greek authorities, including pushbacks at sea and land borders.”
The Greek authorities allege Olsen and Panayote Dimitras, of the Greek Helsinki Monitor, worked together to aid irregular migration. However, Amnesty International asserts the charges are not supported by evidence and represent a misuse of anti-smuggling legislation.
This case echoes a previous prosecution brought against Seán Binder and 23 other human rights defenders in Greece, which resulted in seven years of legal uncertainty before Binder was acquitted of all charges in January 2026. Amnesty International warns that pursuing Olsen’s extradition signals a continued effort to criminalize the work of those documenting refugee and migrant rights violations.
“The Norwegian authorities must immediately release Tommy Olsen and resist attempts by the Greek authorities to extradite him,” Dissanayake stated. “If he is extradited to Greece, he is likely to be held in pre-trial detention for up to 18 months on baseless criminal charges.”
Amnesty International has previously documented the Greek authorities’ tendency to misuse smuggling charges against human rights defenders, citing inconsistencies between Greek law and international definitions of smuggling. The organization argues that Greek law does not adequately protect those acting with humanitarian aims from prosecution.
The arrest warrant against Olsen was issued following an investigation opened by Greek authorities in 2022. The case highlights growing concerns about the suppression of independent monitoring of migration policies and border practices in Greece.
