Justice for the survivors of the state crime resulting in the Pylos shipwreck, and demand the end of pushbacks in the Mediterranean Sea on the two-year commemoration of the mass killing of more than 600 people, and of all lives lost since due to border violence.
Two years ago, the Al-Mutawakkil, a fishing trawler (misidentified as the ‘Adriana’ by the international press), with approximately 750 people on board, was intercepted by the Hellenic Coast Guard, which, in an apparent attempt to tow the ship out of the Greek Search-and-Rescue (SAR) zone, led to its sinking, off the coast of Pylos, Greece. Over 600 lives were lost in one of the deadliest maritime disasters in recent Mediterranean history.
In the aftermath, in an attempt to throw dust in the eyes of the world, and evade accountability for this state crime, nine Egyptian survivors—known as the “Pylos 9″—were unjustly detained and charged with smuggling and causing the shipwreck. However, in May 2024, a Greek court acquitted them, ruling that the incident occurred in international waters and that the Greek courts lacked jurisdiction. The court also dismissed charges of facilitating illegal entry since the ship had not entered, and had no intention to enter Greek territorial waters (legalcentrelesvos.org, mediterranearescue.org).
Moreover, an investigation led by Solomon in collaboration with the Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism, published in El País, Die Tageszeitung, and The New Humanitarian, uncovered that Greek authorities knew—because they were given and ignored Egyptian security intelligence—that the ‘Pylos nine’ were not facilitators, but passengers who had paid 140,000-160,000 Egyptian pounds for the trip (2,680-3,065 euros) (wearesolomon.com)
Survivors testified that the Hellenic Coast Guard was aware of the Al-Mutawakkil being in distress for hours and failed to initiate a timely rescue operation. Watch The Med–Alarm Phone had alerted the HCG on 13 June 2023, at 16:53 CEST, as people on board had called Alarm Phone for help (alarmphone.org). Some survivors testified that the Coast Guard’s actions contributed to the capsizing of the vessel. An independent investigation by the Greek Ombudsman has called for disciplinary action against eight senior Coast Guard officers for dereliction of duty. Furthermore, a criminal investigation is ongoing in the Naval Court of Piraeus to determine potential criminal responsibilities among state actors involved in the incident. (freepylos9.org) In May 2025, the preliminary investigation conducted by the Deputy Prosecutor of the Piraeus Naval Court resulted in bringing felony charges against 17 members of the Hellenic Coast Guard, including senior officers of its leadership. (freepylos9.org)
Yet, in the two years that have passed since the Pylos shipwreck, the systematic unlawful practices of the HCG have continued, including: delaying and denying rescue, attacking and pushing back migrants’ boats; increasingly using weapons and killing people trying to cross the sea, without any respect for international and maritime law or for the protection of fundamental human rights and lives. In the two years since the Pylos state crime, the HCG has pushed back over 30,000 people (en.sg.gov.tr).
Following the recent decision of the European Court of Human Rights which clearly identifies that illegal pushbacks are systematically being performed by the Greek authorities (hudoc.echr.coe.int) Frontex should immediately terminate its joint operations with the Greek state, in line with Article 46 of Regulation 2019/1896.
As we commemorate the lives lost in the Pylos shipwreck, we renew our call for justice and accountability. The survivors and the loved ones of the victims deserve truth, reparations, and a world in which freedom of movement is inalienable and universal.
Earlier this year, on the occasion of the General Strike of 28 February 2025, the loved ones of victims of the Pylos shipwreck sent a message of solidarity to the loved ones of the people who perished in the trainwreck at Tempi (efsyn.gr):
“Let our tears become a sea of rage for the injustice, which is killing our children.”
#FreePylos9 Campaign
freepylos9.org