ATHENS, Greece – The Greek government on Monday firmly rejected allegations from a recent BBC investigation that accused its coast guard of engaging in harsh practices to prevent migrants from reaching Greek shores, which purportedly led to numerous fatalities.
The BBC’s investigation suggested that 43 migrants perished, including nine reportedly thrown overboard, across 15 incidents near the Aegean Sea islands from 2020 to 2023. This conclusion was drawn from eyewitness accounts, corroborated by reports from various media sources, non-profit organizations, and the Turkish coast guard.
Pavlos Marinakis, the Greek government spokesperson, maintained that these claims lack substantiation. “Our assessment is that the reported incidents have not been confirmed,” he stated during a press briefing. He assured that all complaints are thoroughly investigated, and the outcomes are disclosed to the public.
Greece remains a primary entry point for migrants from regions such as the Middle East, Africa, and Asia who aspire to settle in the prosperous European Union. Each year, thousands covertly enter Greece, predominantly via small boats from Turkey. The Greek-Turkish relationship is strained, with both nations’ coast guards frequently accusing each other of migrant mistreatment.
Human rights organizations and migrant aid groups have consistently accused the Greek coast guard and police of illicitly repelling migrants seeking asylum by clandestinely returning them to Turkish waters. Greece vehemently denies these accusations, asserting that its border patrol has rescued countless migrants at sea.
The country’s image suffered another blow in June 2023 when a dilapidated fishing boat carrying roughly 750 individuals capsized off Greece’s southwestern coast. Out of those onboard, only 104 survived. Despite being under surveillance by the Greek coast guard for an extended period, survivors alleged that the vessel sank following a failed towing attempt by the authorities—an accusation that Greece disputes.
The BBC report also included testimony from a Cameroonian migrant who claimed he and two others were apprehended by masked individuals, including police officers, upon their arrival on Samos Island. He alleged they were cast into the sea by the coast guard, leading to the drowning of his companions.
Furthermore, a Syrian migrant recounted being part of a group rescued at sea by the Greek coast guard near Rhodes. He claimed they were placed in life rafts and abandoned in Turkish waters, where several succumbed after one raft deflated before their rescue by the Turkish authorities.
Marinakis emphasized that it is unjust to malign the Greek coast guard. “We scrutinize every report and follow up with investigations; however, I reiterate: The incidents cited in the BBC report are not corroborated by any evidence,” he concluded.
