A naval court in Greece has charged 17 coast guards in connection with the catastrophic Adriana migrant shipwreck on June 14, 2023, which is considered the deadliest migrant boat disaster in the Mediterranean Sea in the last decade. Up to 650 people are feared to have drowned when the vessel capsized near Pylos, off the Greek coast.
The Adriana had reportedly departed from Libya and was bound for Italy, carrying an estimated 750 people. Only 104 survivors are known, while 82 bodies were recovered. It is believed that an additional 500 people, including women and children who were largely below deck, perished.
Survivors have provided harrowing accounts, alleging that Greek coast guards caused their boat to capsize during a botched towing attempt and subsequently silenced witnesses. These claims have been consistently denied by Greek authorities.
The charges facing the coast guards over Greece’s migrant shipwreck
The Deputy Prosecutor of the Piraeus Naval Court has initiated criminal charges against 17 members of the Hellenic Coast Guard. Among those charged is the captain of the Hellenic Coast Guard ship, the LS-920, who faces accusations of “causing a shipwreck,” leading to the deaths of “at least 82 people,” the number of recovered bodies.
The captain is also charged with “dangerous interference of maritime transport” and “failure to provide assistance” to the migrant boat. The crew members of the LS-920 are facing charges of “simple complicity” in the alleged acts committed by the captain.
Furthermore, four officials, including the then-Chief of the Coast Guard and the Supervisor of the National Search and Rescue Coordination Centre in Piraeus, have been charged with “exposing others to danger.”
The disaster occurred in international waters but fell within Greece’s designated rescue zone, raising questions about jurisdiction and responsibility. The Greek Coast Guard ship had been monitoring the Adriana for approximately 15 hours before it sank.
Ongoing investigations and controversies
Multiple survivors have described how the Greek Coast Guard officials allegedly attached a rope to the Adriana and pulled it, causing the vessel to flip. They also claim that, upon reaching land, the officials instructed them to remain silent as to the true cause of the sinking.
The Greek authorities have maintained that the Adriana refused assistance and capsized due to passenger movement. However, investigations by media outlets (including the BBC, The New York Times, The Guardian, and German broadcasters) and human rights organizations have presented evidence, including shipping data and survivor testimonies that challenge the official Greek version of events.
In May 2024, a Greek court dismissed charges against nine Egyptian men who had been accused of migrant smuggling and causing the shipwreck. The court ruled it lacked jurisdiction, as the sinking occurred in international waters. This dismissal amplified concerns from human rights groups that the men were being scapegoated, especially given the ongoing investigation into the Greek Coast Guard’s role.
In an independent inquiry, Greece’s Ombudsman recommended disciplinary action against eight Hellenic Coast Guard officers, having found “clear indications” that they had overlooked the dangers faced by the Adriana’s passengers. This report criticized the Coast Guard’s initial refusal to launch an internal disciplinary investigation.
Questions have been raised as to the availability of crucial evidence, such as audio recordings of communications with Adriana’s captain and video recordings from the LS-920, which the Hellenic Coast Guard claimed were out of order.
The legal proceedings are still in their preparatory stages, and under Greece’s judicial system, the filing of charges does not automatically guarantee a trial.
However, the charges represent a significant development in the quest for accountability for this tragic loss of life, which has drawn international scrutiny and renewed calls for improved migrant safety in the Mediterranean. Human rights organizations continue to demand transparency and justice for the victims and survivors of the Adriana shipwreck.
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