Turkish-Born Asylum Seeker in Greece Branded War Criminal: The Battle of Yannis Vasilis Yaylalı
In a tense parliamentary session on February 18, 2026, Greek Minister for Migration and Asylum Thanos Plevris addressed the uncertain future of activist Yannis Vasilis Yaylalı. A Turkish national of Pontian Greek descent, Yaylalı faces potential deportation following the initial rejection of his asylum application.
Yannis Vasilis Yaylalı: From commando to activist
Born İbrahim Yaylalı, he served as a commando in the Turkish army during the 1990s, a period marked by brutal conflict with Kurdish insurgents.
After being captured by the PKK, his life took a radical turn: his family discovered their hidden Greek-Pontian roots, leading him to reject Turkish nationalism, change his name to Yannis Vasilis, and become a vocal advocate for the recognition of the Pontian Genocide.
The case presents a profound paradox: Yaylalı is being denied asylum based on the very “confessions” that fueled his transformation into an activist. While his supporters see these accounts as acts of repentance and truth-telling, the Asylum Service views them as self-incriminating evidence of participation in war crimes. The final decision now rests with the secondary appeals committee and, potentially, the Greek administrative courts.
https://greekreporter.com/2026/02/19/asylum-seeker-greece-branded-war-criminal-yannis-vasilis-yaylali/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQERDtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETJIc20xZGtpa1F2bEJ2U01nc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvquIYXxS9be0kudo2KjYMX3DSw_v6pWAAIoWg58_7r0fFJwJF3bZcnXvBlJ_aem_HlZ2rITlJN1OGm5T8MBmSw
