Athens, Greece – Human rights organizations are calling for criminal charges to be filed against certain members of the Greek coast guard following a tragic migrant shipwreck that occurred in 2023. A report released by the country’s ombudsman revealed “clear indications” that coast guard officers had neglected the risks associated with the overcrowded vessel that ultimately sank.
The boat, known as the Adriana, was a severely overcrowded fishing trawler transporting an estimated 500 to 750 migrants from Libya to Italy. Tragically, it capsized in international waters off the coast of Pylos in western Greece during June 2023. Out of those on board, only 104 individuals survived, with 82 bodies subsequently recovered, while numerous others remain unaccounted for, having succumbed to the depths of the Mediterranean Sea.
An independent investigation conducted by Greece’s ombudsman concluded this week that eight senior officers of the coast guard should face disciplinary measures for their apparent negligence regarding the vessel’s perilous situation. The coast guard had been alerted to the Adriana’s presence by Italian authorities. They monitored the boat for several hours while it was in international waters but within Greece’s designated area for search and rescue operations.
While coast guard officials claimed that the captain of the Adriana requested to continue his journey without assistance, survivors from the tragedy expressed a different narrative, stating that many passengers were actively signaling for help. According to their testimony, the ship capsized while the coast guard attempted to tow the vessel.
In its report, the ombudsman highlighted “serious and reproachable omissions” in the search and rescue efforts undertaken by senior coast guard officers, providing significant grounds for pursuing legal action against them for endangering the lives of those aboard the Adriana. In response to the coast guard’s refusal to initiate a disciplinary investigation, the independent investigative body began its inquiry in November 2023.
The Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy, which oversees the coast guard, dismissed the ombudsman’s findings, alleging that it was attempting to divert attention away from the real issue of criminal smuggling networks. The Ministry insisted that the coast guard personnel are dedicated to safeguarding the nation’s borders, even as they face criticism regarding their handling of the incident.
Human rights advocates applauded the ombudsman’s findings but condemned the government’s dismissal of the report. The Movement United Against Racism and the Fascist Threat (KEERFA) called the Ministry’s response a “monument of hypocrisy,” suggesting that it exemplified a willingness to obscure the truth about the incident. They announced a planned protest rally at a naval court in Piraeus, Greece’s main port city.
In December, attorneys representing some survivors submitted a formal request to the Piraeus naval court, seeking criminal charges against members of the coast guard involved in the search and rescue efforts. Ombudsman Andreas Pottakis emphasized the necessity for transparency in administrative actions and accountability in relation to the Pylos shipwreck, stating that it is fundamentally connected to upholding the rule of law. He also highlighted the importance of thoroughly investigating any occurrences that infringe upon the rights to life, health, and physical integrity.
