The European Union's Frontex border guard agency is currently probing two allegations regarding illegal pushbacks of migrants in the Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece, the Warsaw-based agency reported on Thursday.
Allegations of this kind were taken extremely seriously, and two investigations regarding serious incidents had been initiated, Frontex said.
The agency was reacting to a report carried by German public broadcasters NDR and WDR. It declined to provide further details as investigations were ongoing.
In one instance, the broadcasters reported the existence of video material showing masked men aboard a ship apparently belonging to the Greek coastguard approaching an inflatable dinghy loaded with 30 people in January this year. The men threatened the dinghy passengers with rods.
A ship of the Latvian coastguard, which is on station for Frontex in the Aegean, can be seen in the background.
The dinghy is reported to have been apprehended later in Turkish waters by the Turkish coastguard.
The second instance is reported to have taken place in February this year. Thirty people aboard an inflatable dinghy in the Aegean are reported to have issued a call for help while other ships were in the vicinity.
Among them was a ship of the Bulgarian coastguard, also operating for Frontex, according to the reports. The dinghy is reported by an eyewitness to have been forced into Turkish waters by Greek officials.
Non-governmental organizations have repeatedly accused Frontex of failing to safeguard migrants' rights.
The French former head of the agency, Fabrice Leggeri, stood down from his post last year following serious allegations made against him.
His successor, Hans Leijtens of the Netherlands, has pledged to investigate all allegations made against Frontex staff and to punish infringements.