Over a three-year period, the Greek Coast Guard was allegedly responsible for the deaths of dozens of migrants in the Mediterranean Sea, according to eyewitness testimony, including nine people who were allegedly deliberately thrown into the water.
The claims are part of a wider investigation by the BBC, which looked at incidents that took place between May 2020 and May 2023.
The investigation found that a total of 43 people died in 15 separate incidents related to the actions of the Greek Coast Guard.
The charges stem from the practice of expelling migrants from Greek territorial waters or returning them to sea after reaching the Greek islands.
Primary sources for these allegations include local media reports, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the Coast Guard in neighboring Turkey.
A video obtained during the investigation shows that 12 people were loaded onto a Greek Coast Guard boat and then left on the dinghy.
This video was shown to a former senior officer of the Greek Coast Guard, who, while still wearing a microphone, commented that the actions shown were “clearly illegal” and constituted an “international crime”.
The Greek government faces long-standing accusations from NGOs, governments and international watchdogs that it engages in forced returns, often pushing migrants back towards Turkey.
Such actions are illegal under international law. Despite these accusations, the Greek Coast Guard has strongly denied any involvement in illegal activities.
This is the first time that the number of fatal incidents allegedly involving the Greek Coast Guard has been calculated.
