In Athens, Greece, advocacy groups are calling for criminal charges against members of the coast guard following a tragic migrant shipwreck in June 2023. This incident involved the Adriana, an overstuffed fishing trawler that was en route from Libya to Italy, carrying between 500 to 750 individuals. It sank in international waters off Pylos, leaving only 104 survivors and resulting in the recovery of 82 bodies, while many more were lost in the Mediterranean’s depths.
The Greek ombudsman’s independent investigation released this week revealed that there are “clear indications” that eight high-ranking coast guard officers may have neglected their responsibilities, which could warrant disciplinary action. The officers had been observing the Adriana for an extended period after being alerted by Italian authorities, as the boat sailed in areas designated for search and rescue operations under Greece’s jurisdiction.
During the incident, the coast guard claimed the captain of the Adriana had refused assistance and wished to continue the journey to Italy. However, numerous survivors disputed this account, stating that desperate pleas for help were made, and the trawler capsized during an attempted towing operation by the coast guard.
The ombudsman’s report suggested serious failings in the search and rescue efforts conducted by senior coast guard officials, raising concerns about the safety of the Adriana’s passengers. This independent investigation was initiated in November 2023, following the coast guard’s denial of a disciplinary inquiry into the actions taken.
The Shipping and Island Policy Ministry, responsible for the coast guard, dismissed the ombudsman’s findings, accusing the report of attempting to divert attention from human smuggling networks to the actions of coast guard members, whom they claim work tirelessly to protect national borders. The ministry criticized the report for seeming to favor narratives that undermine the coast guard’s legitimacy without presenting credible evidence.
Rights organizations have commended the ombudsman’s conclusions and condemned the government’s dismissive response. The Movement United Against Racism and the Fascist Threat, known as KEERFA, described the ministry’s statement as both hypocritical and indicative of a continuous cover-up of the incident. In response, they organized a protest in Piraeus, where demonstrators from the local Pakistani migrant community raised a large banner featuring images of the shipwreck victims along with their identification documents.
In December, lawyers representing some survivors submitted a request to the naval court in Piraeus for criminal charges to be filed against those involved in the search and rescue efforts. Ombudsman Andreas Pottakis emphasized the need for transparent administrative processes and accountability in relation to the deadly shipwreck, asserting that such investigations are critical for upholding the rule of law and respecting the rights to life, health, and physical integrity.
