Seventeen Coast Guard Officers Face Charges in Greece Following 2023 Migrant Tragedy

ATHENS, May 23 (Reuters) – A naval court in Greece has charged 17 coast guard officers linked to one of the Mediterranean’s deadliest maritime disasters, which occurred two years ago and is believed to have claimed hundreds of lives. The tragic incident involved an overcrowded migrant vessel that sank in international waters near Pylos on June 14, 2023, sending ripples of concern throughout Europe and beyond.Investigations into the event are still ongoing.The boat, known as adriana, was under surveillance by a coast guard ship for a staggering 15 hours before it capsized. It had set sail from Libya towards Italy with around 750 individuals aboard; tragically, only 104 survived the ordeal.

Despite this grim situation, Greek coast guard officials have consistently denied any misconduct regarding their actions during the incident. According to three legal sources familiar with the case, thes officers will soon face a judge over serious allegations that include obstructing transport and contributing to or causing the shipwreck.

A representative from the Greek coast guard mentioned they had not yet received formal notification about these charges but were seeking updates from the naval court.

Greece’s judicial process involves multiple preparatory phases; thus far, filing charges does not guarantee that those implicated will go to trial. Simultaneously occurring, human rights advocates are gearing up for protests across Greece on June 21 to commemorate two years as this tragic event.

Earlier this year in February, Greece’s Ombudsman suggested disciplinary measures against eight coast guard personnel—marking one of the first official inquiries into what transpired during that fateful day.

The Greek government maintains that its coast guard operates within human rights frameworks and highlights its efforts in rescuing over 250,000 migrants since becoming a focal point during Europe’s migration crisis back in 2015.

(Reporting by Renee Maltezou and Yannis Souliotis; Editing by Gareth Jones)