Defense lawyers have said that nine men accused of causing one of the deadliest shipwrecks to have taken place in the Mediterranean are “scapegoats” who should never have been prosecuted.
This came as their long-awaited trial opened in Greece.
In June, 2023, the aging fishing boat Adriana, which was thought to be carrying up to 750 people, sank in international waters off the Greek town of Pylos, resulting in an estimated 600 men, women, and children dying.
Pictures of the very crowded ship sailing toward Italy went viral, sparking fury across the world regarding whether or not the Hellenic coastguard, who was notified of the ship’s engine problems almost 15 hours before it capsized, could have done more to avert the tragedy.
To date, only 82 bodies have been recovered.
Questions remain about whether the accused who were among the survivors will receive a fair trial nearly a year later.
The nine, who are between the ages of 20 and 40, are charged with smuggling migrants, engaging in illegal activity, putting human life in danger, and inciting a shipwreck.
If found guilty, they might face several life terms. Everyone has vehemently denied having any involvement in the smuggling scheme.
Anti-fascist and leftist groups staged a protest outside the courthouse to denounce Europe’s migration policies and deploring what they have described as a “state cover-up.”
Before the start of the trial, there was a skirmish between riot police and the protesters.
Greek government representatives maintain that because the boat was in international seas, authorities were unable to respond sooner.
The Greek coastguard’s actions are also the subject of a parallel investigation, but maritime authorities have denied claims that they purposefully refrained from acting out of concern that such a sizable gathering of asylum seekers would be taken ashore.
They have claimed that, while a vessel was dispatched to the area, the stricken boat’s crew members repeatedly turned down offers of help, saying: “No help … [we] go to Italy.”
Organizations advocating for the rights of refugees and survivors contest that account of events.
The European Union (EU) border agency Frontex, which had seen the boat from the air before the coastguard, also hinted in a report it released in December that the Greek authorities had not responded to its offers of assistance or follow-up calls.
Survivors claimed in a lawsuit filed in September of last year that the failed attempt to tow the trawler was the reason the ship sank, in addition to accusing Greek authorities of willfully neglecting to act to save people on board.
Evidence Deemed Insufficient
Vicky Aggelidou, a Lawyer representing two of the men, said the evidence of prosecution witnesses was not only insufficient but simply did not stack up.
She said, “The witnesses were compelled to give testimony under duress. There’s not the slightest bit of proof against the defendants and that’s because they were paying customers just like the rest.”
She added, “Real smugglers never get on a ship. We’re talking about big business. They’re very professional.”
Natasha Dailiani, another Defense Lawyer, said that it was clear that the suspects were “scapegoats to cover up the responsibilities of the [Greek] coastguard.”
“There must be a fair trial and a search for the real causes,” she added.
Defense attorneys have already indicated that they intend to attempt to have the case dismissed, claiming that Greek courts lack jurisdiction to prosecute the case because the shipwreck happened in international waters.
Meanwhile, Judith Sunderland, the Associate Europe and Central Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, noted, “There’s a real risk that these nine survivors could be found ‘guilty’ on the basis of incomplete and questionable evidence, given that the official investigation into the role of the coastguard has not been completed.”
She added, “Credible and meaningful accountability for one of the worst shipwrecks in the Mediterranean needs to include a determination of any liability of Greek authorities.”
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