Two human rights defenders go on trial on the Greek island of Rhodes on October 6. Panayote Dimitras and Tommy Olsen face charges linked to their work with migrants and refugees.

Dimitras leads the Greek Helsinki Monitor. Olsen, a Norwegian national, founded the Aegean Boat Report. Both are charged with forming a criminal organisation and facilitating unlawful entry and stay of third-country nationals.

If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison. Two Cameroonian asylum seekers are being tried alongside them.

Human Rights Watch called the prosecution politically motivated. It said the case aims to silence the activists’ work exposing abuses against migrants.

Amnesty International said the charges misuse anti-smuggling law and are not backed by evidence. A Norwegian appeals court had earlier refused to surrender Olsen to Greece.

The charges date back to July 2021, when the two men were helping asylum seekers on the island of Kos. A Norwegian court refused to surrender Olsen to Greece in May 2026. Amnesty said this is the first time rights workers face trial for helping people access asylum procedures.