Two years after the Pylos crime: Developments in the criminal proceedings – Criminal prosecution

PRESS RELEASE
Athens, 19 June 2025

Two years after the Pylos crime: Developments in the criminal proceedings – Criminal prosecution

On Thursday 19 June 2025, a Press Conference was held at the Athens Bar Association marking the second anniversary of the Pylos crime, the deadliest shipwreck recorded in the Mediterranean in recent years.

Lawyers from organisations representing the survivors and the families of the victims of the shipwreck, who have filed lawsuits with the Piraeus Naval Court, participated. They highlighted recent crucial developments in the criminal proceedings, which constitute a first, substantial step towards justice and accountability. More specifically, an update was provided on the recent criminal prosecution for felonies against 17 members of the Hellenic Coast Guard, including senior officers of its leadership. The charges include, among others, causing a shipwreck, dangerous interference of maritime transport resulting in fatalities, as well as failure to provide assistance and exposing others to danger. Additionally, information was provided regarding the filing of an appeal against the Prosecutor’s Order that archived the case concerning four other officers.

The press conference was moderated by Giorgos Tsarbopoulos, Lawyer.

The participating lawyers stated:

Vassilis Papadopoulos, Greek Council for Refugees (GCR): “The survivors and relatives of the victims of the Pylos shipwreck demand justice, and it will not be long before it is delivered. We must not allow the Mediterranean and the Aegean to become a watery grave for souls and consciences.”

Dimitra Linardaki, Initiative of Lawyers and Jurists for the Pylos Shipwreck: “The need for a substantial, thorough, and effective investigation, aiming at attributing responsibility for the crime of the Pylos shipwreck, is extremely crucial. We are facing a systemic practice of ineffective criminal investigation, for which Greece has been repeatedly condemned by the ECtHR. Unfortunately, we see the same pattern repeating, pointing to an attempted cover-up.”

Eleni Spathana, Refugee Support Aegean (RSA): “Crucial for the reopening of the preliminary inquiry is the report by the Greek Ombudsman, which, following a thorough, well-documented, and binding investigation, confirms that there was no rescue operation until after the sinking. The report concludes with a strong likelihood of criminal responsibility for the senior officials of the Hellenic Coast Guard regarding the omission of assistance and exposure to danger with fatal results, and the violation of the absolute obligation to protect human life at sea, for which we demand justice.”

Aikaterini Pournara, Hellenic League for Human Rights (HLHR): “Two years after the Pylos shipwreck, the survivors and the relatives of the missing and the dead, along with society, continue to demand justice and accountability. The filing of criminal charges and the referral for investigation of 17 members of the Coast Guard, including senior commanding officers, constitutes a first step – a substantial development – on the path to justice.”

Natassa Dailiani, Legal Centre Lesvos: “From all available information regarding the handling of the fishing vessel ‘Adriana’ on 13/06/2023, it is evident that there was a proven state of danger and a need for the rescue of those on board, and the means, method, and time were available. However, there appeared to be no will. Two years later, the survivors and relatives of the victims demand accountability, punishment of the culprits, and justice, and it is the duty of a rule of law state to deliver it.”

Ioanna Kourtovik, Network for Social Support of Refugees and Migrants: “The policy of the Greek government is a criminal policy of deadly deterrence, further highlighted by the government’s choices, such as the promotion of officials like Mr. Georgiadis and Mr. Voridis today in the Ministry of Migration. It is our duty to put a stop to this policy and these opinions. Attribution of justice is not only a conviction; not only an imprisonment; attribution of justice means that the policy of pushbacks, which has cost thousands of lives in recent years in the Aegean and at Europe’s crossings, will finally cease.”

You can watch the video of the press conference at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QfqOmjLLl0&ab_channel=omniatv

We warmly thank Omniatv for organising and hosting the online broadcast.

The organisations: 

• Network for Social Support of Refugees and Migrants

• Hellenic League for Human Rights (HLHR)

• Greek Council for Refugees (GCR)

• Initiative of Lawyers and Jurists for the Pylos Shipwreck

• Refugee Support Aegean (RSA)

• Legal Centre Lesvos