Greek coastal areas accused more than 2023. Migrants shipwreck

A military court in Greece has accused 17 coast guards of migrants in the Mediterranean for decades.

Up to 650 people were afraid to drown when, in the first hours on June 14, 2023, the fishing vessel Adriana sank near the Pylos, off the Greek coast.

Later, the survivors told the BBC that the Greek coastal guards made their boat overcome in a swirling attempt by towing and then silent witnesses.

“We took two years only for these accusations, though so many people witnessed what happened,” said one of the survivors on Monday, a Syrian man we called Ahmad.

The Greek authorities have always denied claims against them.

The deputy prosecutor of the Military Court Piraeus found that 17 members of the Heltest Coast Guard should face criminal liability.

Among them are the Coast Guard ship, the LS-920, which is accused of “the cause of the shipwreck”, which led to the death of “at least 82 people”.

This is in line with the number of restored bodies, although there are another 500 people who have drowned, including women and children below the deck.

The catastrophe occurred in international waters – but in the rescue zone of Greece.

The then head of the Coast Guard and the head of the National Coordination Center for Search and Rescue in Pirai are among the four officials accused of “subjection to other dangers”.

The LS-920 captain is also accused of “dangerous maritime transport intervention” as well as “non-compliance” a migration boat.

The crew of the ship is charged for “simple complicity” of all actions allegedly committed by the captain.

The Coast Guard ship controlled Adrian for 15 hours before he sank.

He left Libya in Italy with approximately 750 people aboard. Only 104 of them are known to survive.

We have investigated since the day of the disaster, and our series of conclusions has raised serious doubts in the official Greek version of events.

During the week, We have received shipping data Which disputed the claim that the migrant boat was not in trouble and therefore did not need to be rescued.

A month later the surviving told us Coast Guard made their boat sinking in a catastrophic effort To tow it, and then forced to testify.

Last year, The case against the nine Egyptians was thrownAgainst the backdrop of the statements that the Greek authorities were released.

Earlier this year, Appeared audio recordings which further disputed the official Greek version of events.

We first met the Syrian fugitives we called Ahmad and Musab to protect our identity a month after the disaster.

They said each paid $ 4,500 (3480 pounds) for a boat place.

Ahmad’s younger brother was also aboard and survived.

Musaab described us a moment when – he claimed – the Greek coastal plots made their boat drowning.

“They attached the rope to the left,” he said. “Everyone moved to the right part of our boat to balance it. The Greek dishes quickly moved, causing our boat to turn over. They continued to pull it to a rather distance.”

The men claimed that one day at the land, in the port of Kalamat, the coast guard ordered the survivors “silent” when they began to talk about how the Greek authorities caused a catastrophe.

“When people replied, saying that the Greek coast was the reason, an official responsible for the interrogation asked the translator to tell the interlocutor to stop the conversation,” Ahmad said.

He said the officials shouted, “You survived death. Stop talking about the incident, don’t ask any more questions.”

Today, Ahmad, who now lives in Germany, said he feels justified by the allegations that have been charged.

“I am very glad that in the end they are held accountable for all that they have done, but until I see them in prison, nothing is done yet,” he said.

“Honestly, the Greek legal system is very unreliable.”

The joint legal group representing survivors and the victims of the disaster stated that the decision to consider the case against 17 coast guards was a big step forward to the execution of justice.

The statement said: “Almost two years after the crash of Pilasa, the accusation and referral for the main investigation of the crimes of 17 coastry members, including senior officers of his leadership, represents a significant and obvious development during the justification of victims and the delivery of justice.”

It is clear that in the coming weeks, 17 people who were accused will be interrogated in the next weeks.

The court will then decide whether to send them to a full court or dismiss the allegations.

It is not immediately clear what punishment the coast can receive if he is found guilty.

Earlier, Greece told the BBC that its coast guard is completely respected by human rights and saved more than 250,000 people in the sea over the last decade.