17 Greek Coast Guard Officers Charged Over Deadly Pylos Shipwreck

Seventeen members of Greece’s coast guard have been charged by a naval court in connection with the 2023 Pylos shipwreck, one of the deadliest migrant disasters in the Mediterranean in recent years, sources confirmed on Friday.

The incident occurred on June 14, 2023, when the Adriana, an overcrowded fishing vessel carrying an estimated 750 migrants from Libya to Italy, capsized and sank in international waters southwest of the Greek town of Pylos. Only 104 people survived, and the exact death toll remains unknown, though hundreds are presumed to have drowned.

The naval court continues to investigate the events leading up to the tragedy. According to reports, a Hellenic Coast Guard vessel monitored the Adriana for approximately 15 hours before it sank. Despite ongoing scrutiny and public outrage, Greek authorities have consistently denied any misconduct in their handling of the situation.

The 17 officers are expected to be summoned by a judge to face a range of accusations, including obstructing transportation and causing or contributing to a shipwreck. Legal experts caution that under Greece’s judicial system, the filing of charges is an early procedural step and does not guarantee that the accused will go to trial.

Public concern and condemnation have intensified as the anniversary of the disaster approaches. Human rights organizations and activists are planning nationwide demonstrations on June 21 to commemorate the lives lost and demand accountability.

Earlier this year, in a rare national investigation, Greece’s Ombudsman recommended disciplinary measures against eight coast guard officers involved in the incident.

In response to the ongoing criticism, the Greek government has reiterated its commitment to human rights, emphasizing that its coast guard has rescued more than 250,000 people since 2015, when Greece became a focal point of Europe’s migration crisis.