Greek Coastguards Face Charges Over 2023 Migrant Boat Disaster
Seventeen members of the Hellenic Coast Guard have been formally charged by a naval court in Greece in connection with the catastrophic sinking of the migrant fishing vessel Adriana off the coast of Pylos on June 14, 2023. This tragedy stands as the deadliest migrant boat disaster in the Mediterranean Sea in over a decade.
The overcrowded vessel is estimated to have been carrying around 750 people when it capsized and sank in international waters, though within Greece’s designated search and rescue zone. While only 104 survivors were rescued, it is feared that up to 650 people perished, including numerous women and children reportedly trapped below deck. The official death toll based on recovered bodies currently stands at 82.
Detailed Charges Against Coast Guard Personnel
Following a lengthy investigation, the Deputy Prosecutor of the Piraeus Naval Court determined there was sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against the 17 individuals.
Among those facing the most serious accusations is the captain of the coastguard ship, the LS-920, which had been monitoring the Adriana for approximately 15 hours before it sank. The captain is charged with:
Causing a shipwreck: Leading to the deaths of “at least 82 people” (corresponding to the recovered bodies).
Dangerous interference of maritime transport.
Failure to provide assistance to the migrant boat.
Four senior officials, including the then-Chief of the Coast Guard and the Supervisor of the National Search and Rescue Coordination Centre in Piraeus, are charged with “exposing others to danger.” The crew members of the LS-920 are charged with “simple complicity” in the acts allegedly committed by their captain.
Survivor Claims Challenge Official Account
The charges follow consistent and deeply troubling accounts from survivors of the Adriana. Many survivors allege that Greek coastguards directly caused the vessel to capsize during a flawed attempt to tow the overcrowded boat. They also claim that authorities subsequently tried to silence them and other witnesses regarding the events leading to the sinking.
One survivor described the alleged towing attempt: “They attached a rope from the left… Everyone moved to the right side of our boat to balance it. The Greek vessel moved off quickly causing our boat to flip. They kept dragging it for quite a distance.”
Further survivor testimony recounts being pressured to remain silent upon reaching land in Kalamata port. One witness reported officials shouting, “You have survived death. Stop talking about the incident. Don’t ask more questions about it.”
Greek authorities have consistently denied these allegations of wrongdoing in their handling of the incident.
Investigations Raise Doubts About Official Narrative
Independent investigations have unearthed evidence that appears to contradict the official Greek version of events. Even within a week of the disaster, shipping data emerged challenging the claim that the Adriana was not in distress and therefore did not require immediate rescue. Months later, detailed survivor testimonies corroborated the allegations of a botched towing attempt causing the sinking. More recently, audio recordings have reportedly surfaced further challenging the official narrative.
Adding to the complexity, a previous case brought against nine Egyptian survivors of the Adriana* disaster was dismissed by a Greek court in Kalamata. Those men, who had spent nearly a year in detention, were facing severe charges including migrant smuggling and provoking a deadly shipwreck. The court ruled it lacked jurisdiction because the shipwreck occurred in international waters, leading to their release. Defence lawyers had argued their clients were simply passengers and victims, suggesting they had been “scapegoated” in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.
The Path Towards Accountability
For survivors and victims’ families, the charges against the coastguards represent a significant, albeit long-awaited, step towards accountability. One survivor, who lost his younger brother in the sinking, expressed feeling “vindicated” by the development but remained skeptical about the reliability of the Greek legal system.
The joint legal team representing the survivors and victims echoed this sentiment, calling the prosecution and referral to investigation of the 17 coastguards, including senior officers, a “substantial and self-evident development in the course of vindication of the victims and the delivery of justice.”
The 17 charged individuals are expected to be questioned by the Deputy Prosecutor in the coming weeks. The naval court will then review the evidence and decide whether to refer the case for a full trial or dismiss the charges. The potential penalties if the coastguards are found guilty remain unclear.
While the investigation continues, the Pylos shipwreck has brought intense scrutiny upon search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean. Greece maintains that its coast guard fully respects human rights and highlights its extensive rescue efforts, stating they have rescued over 250,000 people at sea since 2015. However, a report by the Greek Ombudsman in February recommended disciplinary action against eight coast guard officers in connection with the disaster. Human rights activists and protesters are reportedly planning rallies across Greece in June to mark the second anniversary of the tragedy, emphasizing the ongoing demand for full transparency and justice for the victims.
References
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8yjlzd3pvo
- https://ca.news.yahoo.com/greek-coastguards-charged-over-2023-191735758.html
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/21/charges-dropped-against-nine-egyptians-over-2023-migrant-shipwreck-off-greece
- https://www.marinelink.com/blogs/blog/sources-greek-court-charges-17-coast-guard-officers-over-2023-102832
- https://www.arabnews.com/node/2601875/world
