Greek Coastguards Face Charges Over Catastrophic Migrant Shipwreck

The naval court in Greece has brought charges against 17 coastguards involved in the tragic sinking of the Adriana, where up to 650 migrants are feared to have drowned. Survivors allege misconduct and cover-ups by the coastguards during the disaster.

A naval court in Greece has officially charged 17 members of the Hellenic Coast Guard following the tragic sinking of a migrant boat, the Adriana, which led to the death of at least 82 individuals off the coast of Pylos on June 14, 2023. The disaster, which occurred in the Mediterranean Sea, has been called one of the deadliest in the last decade, with fears that as many as 650 people could have drowned in the incident.

The coastguards, including the captain of the coastguard vessel LS-920, are facing serious criminal charges such as "causing a shipwreck" and "dangerous interference of maritime transport." Survivors have accused the coastguard of causing the boat's capsizing during a failed attempt to tow it and have reported efforts to silence witnesses afterwards. Ahmad, a Syrian survivor, expressed frustration at the lengthy process leading up to these charges, stating, "It has taken us two years just for these charges to come."

Greek officials have consistently denied these allegations, asserting that the Adriana was not in distress before it sank. However, evidence collected since the disaster, including audio recordings and testimonies from survivors, has cast significant doubts on the official narrative. It has been reported that the coastguard had monitored the migrant vessel for over 15 hours, during which it was believed to be overcrowded, initially having set off from Libya with around 750 people on board.

While only 104 survivors emerged from the sea, the heart-wrenching accounts of those like Ahmad and Musaab provide a chilling glimpse into the chaos that led to this maritime tragedy. "The Greek vessel moved off quickly causing our boat to flip," Musaab recalled, deeply troubled by the fact that many loved ones, including Ahmad's younger brother, were lost at sea.

With the charges now formally laid, the legal team representing the victims welcomed the decision as a significant step towards justice. They stated that prosecuting the coastguards indicates progress in holding authorities accountable for the disaster, which has heavily impacted the lives of many migrants and their families. The prosecution will continue with interviews of the charged individuals and decide whether they will face trial.