Greek Coast Guard Head Prosecuted Over Deadly Migrant Shipwreck
Rights groups representing survivors and victims call for accountability in Greece's deadliest migrant tragedy.
ATHENS: The head of Greece’s coast guard has been prosecuted over the country’s deadliest migrant shipwreck, which claimed hundreds of lives, rights groups representing the survivors and victims said on Friday.
According to Trifonas Kontizas, the groups' joint statement, criminal proceedings have been initiated against four senior officers of the coast guard, including its current chief, following a ruling by the prosecutor of the court of appeal.
This move comes after similar proceedings were started for 17 members of the coast guard in May.
The case stems from the June 13, 2023, sinking of the overloaded trawler Adriana off Pylos, southern Greece.
The vessel was en route to Italy and carried more than 750 people, according to the United Nations, although only 82 bodies were found.
Survivors have accused the coast guard of inadequately responding to their distress calls.
Felony charges include failure to rescue and assist persons in distress as well as manslaughter by negligence.
Originally shelved by the prosecutor of the Piraeus Naval Court, the case was reopened following an appeal from survivors, including 104 who filed a group criminal complaint.
They allege that despite warnings from EU border agency Frontex and the NGO Alarm Phone, the coast guard took hours to mount a response.
The boat was carrying Syrians, Palestinians, and nearly 350 Pakistanis, among others.
The prosecutor suggests that the sudden and powerful towing by the coast guard led to the trawler’s capsize, which occurred 47 nautical miles off Pylos while being towed.
The coast guard has argued that those on board refused help, making a rescue operation risky due to high seas conditions.
However, critics argue that a larger rescue tugboat stationed closer at Gytheion was not dispatched immediately.
Survivors' legal representatives have pointed out issues such as the delayed repair of the patrol boat’s voyage data recorder and the lack of video footage from the vessel.
According to Trifonas Kontizas, the groups' joint statement, criminal proceedings have been initiated against four senior officers of the coast guard, including its current chief, following a ruling by the prosecutor of the court of appeal.
This move comes after similar proceedings were started for 17 members of the coast guard in May.
The case stems from the June 13, 2023, sinking of the overloaded trawler Adriana off Pylos, southern Greece.
The vessel was en route to Italy and carried more than 750 people, according to the United Nations, although only 82 bodies were found.
Survivors have accused the coast guard of inadequately responding to their distress calls.
Felony charges include failure to rescue and assist persons in distress as well as manslaughter by negligence.
Originally shelved by the prosecutor of the Piraeus Naval Court, the case was reopened following an appeal from survivors, including 104 who filed a group criminal complaint.
They allege that despite warnings from EU border agency Frontex and the NGO Alarm Phone, the coast guard took hours to mount a response.
The boat was carrying Syrians, Palestinians, and nearly 350 Pakistanis, among others.
The prosecutor suggests that the sudden and powerful towing by the coast guard led to the trawler’s capsize, which occurred 47 nautical miles off Pylos while being towed.
The coast guard has argued that those on board refused help, making a rescue operation risky due to high seas conditions.
However, critics argue that a larger rescue tugboat stationed closer at Gytheion was not dispatched immediately.
Survivors' legal representatives have pointed out issues such as the delayed repair of the patrol boat’s voyage data recorder and the lack of video footage from the vessel.
