Leaked Recordings Cast Doubt on Greek Account of Deadly Shipwreck
Newly Emerged Audio Challenges Official Narrative of Migrant Boat Tragedy
Leaked audio recordings have raised fresh doubts over Greece’s official account of a catastrophic shipwreck that left up to 650 migrants dead. The incident occurred in the early hours of June 14, 2023, when the overcrowded fishing vessel Adriana sank in international waters within Greece's rescue zone after departing from Libya days earlier.
Survivors have accused the Greek coastguard of causing the boat to capsize during a failed towing attempt and later forcing witnesses into silence. The coastguard, however, has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that those onboard were not in immediate danger and had voluntarily set course for Italy.
Yet, recently surfaced recordings reveal an officer at Greece’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) instructing the migrant boat's captain to inform an approaching vessel that they did not wish to land in Greece.
Unveiled Audio Exchanges
The audio, published by Greek news site News247.gr, contains two key conversations involving the JRCC in Piraeus, near Athens.
In the first call at 18:50 local time on June 13, a JRCC officer tells the migrant boat's captain that a large red supply vessel is on its way with food, water, and fuel. The officer instructs him to tell the ship’s crew, “We don’t want to go to Greece.”
The second call, at 22:10, features another JRCC officer speaking to the captain of the supply vessel Lucky Sailor.
Officer 2: "You told me you gave them food and water, and they told you they don’t want to stay in Greece but want to go to Italy? They don’t want anything else?"
Lucky Sailor Captain: "Yes, I asked them via megaphone, ‘Greece or Italy?’ and everybody screamed ‘Italy.’"
The officer then instructs the captain to record in his logbook that the migrants refused assistance from Greece and insisted on reaching Italy.
Another vessel, Faithful Warrior, also provided supplies to the Adriana, though no recordings of its interactions with Greek authorities have been released.
Greek Coastguard Under Scrutiny
The Greek coastguard has declined to comment on the leaked recordings but confirmed that all available evidence, including audio logs, had been submitted to the Greek Naval Court, which is investigating the disaster.
The coastguard emphasized its record of rescuing over 250,000 migrants at sea over the past decade and arresting more than 1,000 smugglers. It maintains that the Adriana was en route to Italy and did not require intervention.
However, a BBC investigation shortly after the incident contradicted this claim. Analysis of maritime movements suggested the vessel had been stationary for at least seven hours before capsizing. Survivors have consistently stated that the coastguard’s actions contributed to the disaster.
Legal and Human Rights Concerns
Greek courts have previously dismissed charges against nine Egyptian men accused of causing the shipwreck, citing a lack of jurisdiction since the sinking occurred in international waters. This ruling followed survivor testimonies contradicting Greek authorities' claims, with some alleging they had been coerced into blaming the Egyptians.
Human rights lawyer Dimitris Choulis, who represented some of the accused, was unsurprised by the leaked recordings. “We have known about the coastguard’s tactics—either pushing back migrants or refusing to rescue them,” he said, adding that authorities attempted to cover up the tragedy from the outset.
Several human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have called for an independent, international investigation, citing concerns over the integrity of Greece’s internal probe. The Greek Ombudsman, an independent body, is also reviewing the case.
The disaster remains one of the deadliest migrant tragedies in the Mediterranean, with hundreds of lives lost and lingering questions over Greece’s role in the events leading up to the shipwreck.
Leave A Comment