Gunshots

Gunshots fired during pushbacks or border confrontations are a method of intimidation and control frequently reported in testimonies. While these shots are often aimed at the air or ground, they serve as a stark warning of the lethal force that states exert over people. In some cases, gunshots are fired closer to individuals, escalating the threat and causing injuries from stray bullets or ricochets.

The use of firearms in such contexts highlights the violent militarization of border enforcement, where lethal force is normalized as part of the control mechanism. This practice breaches numerous international laws, including the ECHR (Article 2, right to life) and the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, which emphasize the need for proportionality and restraint. The presence of firearms and their use to terrorize rather than protect speaks to the extreme and often illegal measures employed to police borders.