Greek court eases asylum seeker rules

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Greece's top administrative court has ruled that asylum seekers should be allowed to move freely around the country, a move that could alleviate pressure on overcrowded island refugee camps.

A justice source on Wednesday said the Council of State ruling only applies to asylum seekers who arrive from now on, and is not applicable to over 15,000 people already on the islands.

Chronic overcrowding in island camps where migrants can spend months after landing until their asylum claims can be processed has often led to protests and outbreaks of violence.

On Tuesday, hundreds of Afghan migrants demonstrated on Lesbos island over the fate of one of their fellow nationals, who was recently hospitalised with a heart ailment.

The Greek government is keen to reduce tension on the eastern Aegean islands of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Leros and Kos, especially as the busy tourist season is about to begin.

Local authorities have long protested to Athens over the issue, and have blocked state efforts to expand capacity in the camps in retaliation.

So far, only ailing and vulnerable refugees such as unaccompanied minors have been allowed off the islands without full asylum approval, a process that can take many months owing to the sheer volume of applications.

Until now, the migration ministry has refused to allow larger numbers of refugees to cross to the mainland, arguing that it would only encourage people smugglers to send more over.

A person with knowledge of the issue, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP the government is likely to seek legal avenues to set exceptions to the court ruling.

The immigration ministry said it would "study" the ruling and that it had tabled a new law "which addresses the issue."

A ministry source said the bill will be approved by parliament by the end of the month.