"They put us in a cage and didn't give us food for three days. They beat us so badly. They even gave us electric shocks," says Isaaq from Afghanistan about his treatment in Bulgaria. Isaaq is one of 140 migrants quoted in the report, which focuses on the brutality and abuse by law enforcement officials against migrants, including children. The research was carried out by the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and the Macedonian Young Lawyers Association (MYLA) with Oxfam's support. Thousands of refugees are still blocked in "limbo," despite the Western Balkan route being declared closed. The report said migrants cynically talked about a "game," referring to their attempts to cross borders in search of safety without interception and ill-treatment by government agents. "When we crossed the border and entered Hungary, police took us. They made us strip down and sit on the snow, throwing ice cold water at us," Majeed said in the report. Hamid and Tariq - whose intended destination was Italy or Belgium - said that while they were attempting to cross the border in Croatia, they were apprehended, forced to take off their clothes and shoes , and to walk along a railway line while they were beaten. Tariq also said police officials in Hungary took his cell phone and beat him. He said he was chased by police dogs and pushed back towards the Serbian border. Meanwhile, the EU is thinking about making access increasingly difficult. Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz said not enough has been done so far in this regard. "Border checks in Europe are necessary because of the lack of security along the external border of the EU," he warned, talking about the possibility of using the Brenner barrier ''in case of need." The migrant crisis was also central issue at a meeting of army chiefs of staff of Serbia and Hungary.

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