On Monday, Greece denied a new report accusing its coast guard of preventing migrants from reaching Greek shores, resulting in dozens of deaths. The BBC report claimed that 43 migrants drowned, including nine thrown into the water, in incidents off the Aegean Sea islands from 2020-2023. Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis refuted the allegations, stating there was no evidence to support them.
Greece serves as a major gateway for migrants from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia seeking a better life in the European Union. Tensions often arise between Greece and neighboring Turkey, with both countries’ coast guards accusing each other of mistreating migrants. Migrant charities and human rights groups have accused Greece’s coast guard of illegally preventing migrants from seeking asylum by returning them to Turkish waters, which Greece has vehemently denied.
In June 2023, a fishing vessel carrying an estimated 750 people sank off southwestern Greece, with only 104 survivors. Survivors claimed the trawler sank after a failed attempt by the Greek coast guard to tow it, although Greek authorities denied the allegations. The new BBC report included claims from a Cameroonian man who said he and two other migrants were picked up by masked men, including policemen, after landing on Samos. The man alleged they were thrown into the sea, resulting in the drowning of two men.
The report also featured a Syrian man’s account of being picked up by the Greek coast guard off Rhodes. The survivors were put in life rafts and left adrift in Turkish waters, with several dying before the Turkish coast guard rescued them. Marinakis responded, stating it was wrong to target the Greek coast guard and that they monitor all reports and investigations. However, he reiterated that the claims in the BBC report lacked evidence to support them.
Greece’s border forces have saved hundreds of thousands of migrants from sinking boats, according to the government. Migrant charities and human rights groups continue to accuse Greece of preventing migrants from seeking asylum through illegal means, while Greece maintains its innocence. The ongoing tension between Greece and Turkey adds complexity to their coast guards’ interactions, with both sides trading accusations of mistreatment of migrants.
While the allegations in the new BBC report paint a grim picture of Greek coast guard practices, Greece has continued to defend itself against these claims. The country remains a crucial entry point for migrants attempting to reach Europe, with ongoing challenges and controversies surrounding the treatment of migrants by Greece’s border forces. The complexities of the situation underscore the need for transparency and accountability in handling migrant arrivals and addressing allegations of mistreatment.
