A Greek military court has charged 17 coast guard officers in connection with the deadliest migrant shipwreck in the Mediterranean in a decade.
On June 14, 2023, a ship carrying 750 refugees fleeing Libya was under coast guard surveillance for 15 hours before capsizing. Only 104 people survived.
“It took us two years just to bring these charges, even though so many people witnessed what happened,” one of the survivors said on Monday.
The charges include “facilitating shipwreck,” “obstructing transport,” and “causing or facilitating shipwreck.” But the coast guard vehemently denies any wrongdoing, calling the actions of its officers “impeccable.”
The Greek judicial system consists of several preliminary stages, and the filing of charges does not necessarily mean that a person will stand trial.
On June 21, activists across Greece will hold rallies demanding justice on the second anniversary of the Pilosa disaster. Even the Greek ombudsman has acknowledged that eight officers should be punished.
