Greek coastguards charged over 2023 migrant shipwreck

[ad_1] Nick Beake Europe Correspondent

Kostas Kallergis Senior Europe Producer

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/5ee0/live/516bb0b0-3a42-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/5ee0/live/516bb0b0-3a42-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5ee0/live/516bb0b0-3a42-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/5ee0/live/516bb0b0-3a42-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/5ee0/live/516bb0b0-3a42-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/5ee0/live/516bb0b0-3a42-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/5ee0/live/516bb0b0-3a42-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5ee0/live/516bb0b0-3a42-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Greek Coast Guard An undated photo provided by the Greek coastguard shows migrants on board the crowded fishing vessel, 14 June 2023 " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Greek Coast Guard The migrant boat sank with 650 individuals onboard

A naval court docket in Greece has charged 17 coastguards over the deadliest migrant boat catastrophe within the Mediterranean Sea for a decade.

As much as 650 individuals have been feared to have drowned when the overcrowded Adriana fishing vessel sank close to Pylos, off the Greek coast, within the early hours of 14 June 2023.

Survivors later informed the BBC that Greek coastguards had induced their boat to capsize in a botched try to tow it after which silenced witnesses.

"It has taken us two years only for these fees to return, regardless that so many individuals witnessed what occurred," one of many survivors, a Syrian man we referred to as Ahmad, mentioned on Monday.

Captain of coastguard ship charged

The Greek authorities have at all times denied the claims towards them.

The Deputy Prosecutor of the Piraeus Naval Court docket has discovered that 17 members of the Hellenic Coast Guard ought to face legal fees.

Amongst them is the captain of the coastguard ship, the LS-920, who's charged with "inflicting a shipwreck", resulting in the deaths of "not less than 82 individuals".

This corresponds to the variety of our bodies recovered, though it's thought as many as a further 500 individuals drowned, together with girls and youngsters who have been all under deck.

The catastrophe occurred in worldwide waters - however inside Greece's rescue zone.

The then-Chief of the Coast Guard and the Supervisor of the Nationwide Search and Rescue Coordination Centre in Piraeus are amongst 4 officers charged with "exposing others to hazard".

The captain of the LS-920 can be charged with "harmful interference of maritime transport" in addition to a "failure to supply help" to the migrant boat.

The crew of the ship are charged for "easy complicity" in all of the acts allegedly dedicated by the captain.

Doubts over Greek officers' account

A coastguard ship had been monitoring the Adriana for 15 hours earlier than it sank.

It had left Libya for Italy with an estimated 750 individuals on board. Solely 104 of them are identified to have survived.

We have been investigating for the reason that day of the catastrophe and our sequence of findings has solid severe doubt on the official Greek model of occasions.

Inside every week, we obtained transport knowledge which challenged the declare the migrant boat had not in hassle and so didn't should be rescued.

A month later, survivors informed us the coastguard had induced their boat to sink in a disastrous effort to tow it after which compelled witnessed to remain silent.

Final yr, a case towards 9 Egyptians was thrown out, amid claims they'd been scapegoated by the Greek authorities.

Earlier this yr, audio recordings emerged which additional challenged the official Greek model of occasions.

Syrian survivors really feel 'vindicated'

We first met Syrian refugees, who we referred to as Ahmad and Musaab to guard their identities, a month after the catastrophe.

They mentioned they every paid $4,500 (£3,480) for a spot on the boat.

Ahmad's youthful brother was additionally on board and didn't survive.

Musaab described to us the second when - he alleged - the Greek coastguards induced their boat to sink.

"They connected a rope from the left," he mentioned. "Everybody moved to the appropriate facet of our boat to steadiness it. The Greek vessel moved off rapidly inflicting our boat to flip. They saved dragging it for fairly a distance."

The lads claimed that when on land, within the port of Kalamata, the coastguard informed survivors to "shut up" once they began to speak about how the Greek authorities had induced the catastrophe.

"When individuals replied by saying the Greek coastguard was the trigger, the official in command of the questioning requested the interpreter to inform the interviewee to cease speaking," Ahmad mentioned.

He mentioned officers shouted: "You've got survived dying. Cease speaking concerning the incident Do not ask extra questions on it."

At present Ahmad - who's now dwelling in Germany - mentioned he felt vindicated by the fees that had been introduced.

"I am very pleased they're finally being held accountable for all that they've dedicated, however till I see them in jail nothing has been completed but," he mentioned.

"To be trustworthy, the Greek authorized system could be very unreliable."

Authorized staff for victims welcome fees

The joint authorized staff representing survivors and victims of the catastrophe mentioned the choice to pursue a case towards the 17 coastguards was an enormous step ahead in direction of justice being completed.

In an announcement it mentioned: "Nearly two years after the Pylos shipwreck, the prosecution and referral to foremost investigation for felonies of 17 members of the Coast Guard, together with senior officers of its management, constitutes a considerable and self-evident improvement in the middle of vindication of the victims and the supply of justice."

It's understood the 17 males who've now been charged will likely be questioned within the coming weeks by the Deputy Prosecutor of the Piraeus Naval Court docket.

The court docket will then resolve whether or not to ship them to full trial or dismiss the fees.

It's not instantly clear what punishment the coastguards might obtain if discovered responsible.

Greece has beforehand informed the BBC its Coast Guard absolutely respects human rights and has rescued greater than 250,000 individuals at sea prior to now decade.