Athens, Greece (AP) — Advocacy groups are urging for legal action to be taken against individuals from Greece’s coast guard in connection with a fatal migrant shipwreck that occurred in 2023, following a report by the country’s ombudsman highlighting “clear signs” that officers had disregarded the risks posed by the sunken boat.
The vessel in question, named the Adriana, a severely overcrowded fishing trawler, was en route from Libya to Italy carrying an estimated 500-750 individuals when it sank in international waters off the coast of Pylos in western Greece in June 2023. Out of those onboard, only 104 survived, with 82 bodies recovered, leaving the majority trapped in the depths of the Mediterranean.
After an independent inquiry into the incident, the ombudsman’s report this week concluded that eight senior coast guard officials should face disciplinary measures for failing to acknowledge the dangers posed by the trawler.
Despite being alerted to the boat’s presence by Italian authorities, the coast guard had been monitoring the vessel for hours within Greece’s search and rescue jurisdiction in international waters. While the coast guard claimed the Adriana’s captain declined assistance and intended to proceed to Italy, survivors contradicted this narrative, stating that distress calls were made repeatedly and that the boat capsized during a tow attempt by the Greek authorities.
The ombudsman’s report cited “numerous serious oversights in the search and rescue responsibilities of senior Hellenic Coast Guard officers, which present clear evidence” for the prosecution of these individuals for jeopardizing the lives of the Adriana’s passengers.
Following the coast guard’s refusal to initiate a disciplinary investigation, the ombudsman began its own probe in November 2023. The Shipping and Island Policy Ministry, overseeing the coast guard, dismissed the ombudsman’s findings, accusing the report of diverting focus from criminal smuggling networks to the coast guard members dedicated to safeguarding the nation.
Rights organizations praised the ombudsman’s report and criticized the government’s response. The Movement United Against Racism and the Fascist Threat (KEERFA) called for a demonstration outside a naval court in Piraeus, denouncing the ministry’s alleged cover-up of the incident.
Legal representatives of survivors have petitioned the Piraeus naval court for criminal charges against search and rescue personnel involved in the operation. Ombudsman Andreas Pottakis stressed the importance of transparent administrative actions and accountability in the aftermath of the tragic Pylos shipwreck as essential to upholding the rule of law.
The violation of the right to life, health, and physical integrity is deeply concerning.
