Residents in Athanatoi, in the Municipality of Heraklion, and surrounding areas staged a new protest over the planned creation of a migrant reception facility at the former Skouloudis warehouses, as the Minister for Migration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, informed the Regional Governor of Crete, Stavros Arnaoutakis, and the Mayor of Heraklion, Alexis Kalokairinos.

According to creta24.gr, citizens opposing the siting of the facility at the specific property gathered outside the former Skouloudis warehouses, which, under the ministry’s plan, is set to operate from July as a closed temporary migrant facility. They also proceeded once again to block the Heraklion–Moires National Road, as they had done the previous day, causing kilometer-long traffic queues for a second consecutive day.

Police are present at the scene.

It is recalled that following communication between Thanos Plevris, Stavros Arnaoutakis and Alexis Kalokairinos, the Municipality of Heraklion issued a statement saying that the issue of the migrant facility in Athanatoi will be discussed at a Municipal Council meeting scheduled for Monday 22 June. It also notes that the Mayor of Heraklion asked the Minister, prior to the finalisation of the decision, to take into account issues raised by residents, mainly environmental and civil protection concerns.

As stated in the announcement:

“The Mayor of Heraklion, Alexis Kalokairinos, was informed a short while ago by the Minister for Migration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, of his decision to establish a closed and controlled short-term reception area for migrants/refugees at the 10th kilometre of the Heraklion–Moires National Road, at the former Skouloudis factory. The Mayor of Heraklion requested that the Minister, prior to finalising the decision, take into account the issues raised by residents, mainly environmental and civil protection concerns in the area.

By initiative of the Municipal Authority, the issue will be brought for discussion at the Municipal Council, which has been convened for Monday 22/6, on the basis of the Resolution already issued (23/3/2026). It is recalled that, according to announcements by the Minister for Migration, this will be a Controlled Temporary Reception/Detention Facility similar to the one in Agia, Chania, for the registration and transfer of newly arrived migrants to mainland Greece structures within 2–3 days.”