Leaked Audio Challenges Greek Coastguard’s Account of Pylos Migrant Tragedy
Leaked audio recordings have raised fresh questions about the Greek coastguard’s handling of the Pylos migrant tragedy, one of the deadliest shipwrecks in the Mediterranean. The recordings suggest that Greek officials may have instructed a rescue vessel to avoid bringing the overcrowded fishing boat to Greece before it capsized on 14th June 2023, killing hundreds.
The Pylos migrant tragedy unfolded when the Adriana, a fishing trawler carrying up to 750 people, set off from Libya towards Italy. Survivors claim the Greek coastguard attempted to tow the vessel, causing it to capsize. The Greek authorities deny this, insisting the passengers refused help and wanted to continue to Italy. However, a newly surfaced recording contradicts that claim, revealing a coastguard official instructing the boat’s captain to reject Greek intervention.
“Tell Them: We Do Not Want to Go to Greece”
In a recording obtained by News247.gr, Greek rescue coordination officials are heard directing the captain of a vessel near the Adriana to ensure the migrants stated they did not want Greek assistance.
At 18:50 local time (15:50 GMT) on 13th June, an officer tells the migrant boat’s captain:
Officer 1:
“A boat is approaching to give you fuel, water, and food. Another will follow in an hour. Tell the captain to say to the big red ship: ‘We don’t want to go to Greece.’ OK?”
Later, at 22:10, a second officer speaks with the captain of the Lucky Sailor, a vessel that had provided supplies. The conversation reinforces concerns that Greek authorities were directing the situation rather than responding to distress.
Officer 2:
“Captain, I want this to be written in your logbook—the migrants don’t want to stay in Greece and want to go to Italy. They don’t want anything from Greece.”
Lucky Sailor Captain:
“Yes, yes, yes.”
This contradicts the coastguard’s claim that the boat was heading to Italy by choice, suggesting an official effort to manage perceptions rather than ensure safety.
Survivors and a Cover-Up Allegation
Survivors say the Greek coastguard’s intervention caused the ship to capsize. Some claim they were pressured into silence.
One survivor told the BBC:
“They kept telling us to say we refused help. But that’s not true. We were desperate.”
Tracking data contradicts the Greek authorities’ account, showing that the Adriana was stationary for at least seven hours before it sank. This has fuelled speculation about a possible cover-up, and Amnesty International has joined calls for an independent investigation into the disaster.
The Greek coastguard has refused to comment on the leaked audio but insists it has submitted all available evidence to a Naval Court leading the inquiry.
What This Means for Migration Policy
The Pylos migrant tragedy has reignited debates about European migration policies. Critics argue that strict border control and the lack of safe, legal migration routes push people into dangerous crossings.
Greece’s coastguard has faced past allegations of pushbacks—forcing asylum seekers back to sea instead of rescuing them. Dimitris Choulis, a human rights lawyer for some of the accused Egyptian men initially blamed for the shipwreck, said:
“There has been an attempted cover-up from day one.”
With international pressure growing, calls for an independent inquiry could shape how future maritime rescues are handled. If the leaked recordings are verified, they may force a re-examination of Europe’s response to migration crises.
Have Your Say
Should there be stricter oversight of migrant rescue operations? Do EU policies need urgent reform?
For more updates on this story, visit EyeOnLondon.
[Image Credit: Opinio Juris]
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