Ukraine’s foreign ministry has denied reports that several of its nationals were handed down life sentences in Greek courts after being convicted of people smuggling.

A foreign ministry official, Serhiy Pohoreltsev, told reporters in Kiev on Thursday that although 120 Ukrainian citizens had been detained on such charges in Greece, only 42 had been convicted.

Interfax reported Pohoreltsev claiming those convicted had received jail terms of between eight to 25 years.

Undocumented migration remains a significant problem for the Greek authorities.

Source: http://greece.greekreporter.com/category/greek-news/tourism/