International Courant
LONDON
Over a three-year interval, the Greek Coast Guard has allegedly been accountable for the deaths of dozens of migrants within the Mediterranean Sea, in accordance with eyewitness testimony, together with from 9 individuals who have been reportedly thrown into the water intentionally.
These claims are a part of a broader investigation by the BBC, which analyzed incidents occurring from Could 2020 to Could 2023.
The investigation discovered {that a} complete of 43 individuals died in 15 separate incidents linked to the actions of the Greek Coast Guard.
The accusations stem from practices the place migrants have been pressured out of Greek territorial waters or returned to the ocean after reaching Greek islands.
The first sources for these allegations embrace native media reviews, non-governmental organizations, and the Coast Guard in neighboring Türkiye.
Footage obtained in the course of the investigation exhibits 12 individuals being loaded onto a Greek Coast Guard boat and subsequently deserted on a dinghy.
This footage was proven to a former senior Greek Coast Guard officer, who, whereas nonetheless carrying a microphone, commented that the actions depicted have been “clearly unlawful” and constituted “a world crime.”
The Greek authorities has confronted long-standing accusations from NGOs, governments, and worldwide watchdogs of partaking in pressured returns, typically pushing migrants again in direction of Türkiye, from the place they initially crossed.
Such actions are unlawful below worldwide regulation. Regardless of these accusations, the Greek Coast Guard has firmly denied any involvement in unlawful actions.
This BBC investigation marks the primary time the variety of deadly incidents allegedly involving the Greek Coast Guard has been calculated.
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