Greek Coastguard Head Recommended for Trial in Migrant Shipwreck Case

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Greek Coastguard Head Recommended for Trial in Migrant Shipwreck Case

Introduction of Charges

A prosecutor at the naval appeal court in Piraeus has recommended that Vice Admiral Tryfon Kontizas, the current head of the Hellenic Coastguard, and three other senior officers face trial. These charges are related to a migrant boat sinking in June 2023, an incident in which an estimated 650 people are believed to have drowned.

Details of the Incident

The fishing vessel Adriana, reportedly transporting migrants from Libya to Italy, sank off the Greek coast near Pylos. The vessel was monitored by a Greek patrol vessel for approximately 15 hours prior to its capsizing. Among the passengers, 104 individuals survived, and 82 bodies were recovered.

Allegations and Initial Prosecutions

Survivors reported that the Adriana capsized after a Greek coastguard vessel attempted to tow it. These survivors alleged that the towing operation caused the boat to become unbalanced and sink. Greek authorities have consistently denied any wrongdoing regarding the incident.

Earlier in the year, prosecutors at the maritime court in Piraeus decided to charge 17 members of the Greek coastguard. This group included the captain of the coastguard ship, the then-head of the coastguard Vice Admiral Giorgos Alexandrakis, and the supervisor of the national search and rescue centre.

Current Prosecution and Appeals

Initially, Vice Admiral Kontizas and three other senior officers were cleared of blame. Vice Admiral Kontizas had been appointed coastguard chief a few weeks prior to this decision. However, lawyers representing survivors and victims' relatives subsequently challenged this decision.

The current recommendation from the naval appeal court prosecutor now includes Vice Admiral Kontizas among the four senior figures recommended for criminal prosecution. The charges cited by the court of appeal encompass:

  • Manslaughter by negligence in international waters, within Greece's designated rescue zone.
  • Exposure by negligence, stemming from a legal obligation to rescue individuals, which resulted in death.
  • Repeated exposure of other individuals to danger by omission.

Greece's Stance

Greece maintains that it upholds human rights fully and states it has rescued over 250,000 people at sea in the last decade.