On Tuesday, 19 November 2024, the Three – Member Court of Appeals for Felonies in Kalamata will hear the compensation claims of the ‘Pylos 9’. These nine individuals, survivors of the sinking of the vessel Adriana on June 14, 2023, were accused and detained by the Greek state for the shipwreck and also as alleged members of a smuggling network. The shipwreck resulted in the loss of over 600 lives.
The nine defendants were held in prison for 11 months until last May, when an obvious but long-awaited decision was made: the Kalamata court declared itself incompetent to examine the case, as the shipwreck occurred in international waters. Additionally, the ‘Pylos 9’ were acquitted of charges of illegal entry and transportation of third parties, since the vessel had never entered Greek territory, as it was already known to the authorities.
Nevertheless, the true culprit of the tragedy—the Greek Coast Guard—has yet to face justice
Seventeen months after the state crime at Pylos, investigations conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office of the Naval Court of Piraeus and the Greek Ombudsman remain incomplete. Nonetheless, survivor testimonies and extensive journalistic investigations have revealed the true circumstances of the shipwreck. Authorities knew from the outset that the tragedy resulted from the unjustifiable delay in the search-and-rescue operation, as well as the direct actions of the patrol vessel PPLS 920, which attempted to tow the Adriana. Yet they chose to accuse nine survivors in an effort to cover up their responsibilities, aligning with established policies that criminalize migration. In doing so, they did not hesitate to publicly humiliate the “Pylos 9” in tabloid newspapers and government-aligned media, targeting them and endangering their safety and that of their families. Even today, the nine remain insecure, facing the risk of rejection of their asylum applications and subsequent deportation.
At the very least, the Greek state owes the “Pylos 9” fair and full compensation, along with the provision of necessary psychosocial support.
We demand:
- A thorough investigation into the causes behind the “Pylos shipwreck” and the criminal prosecution of the true culprits.
- Full compensation for the “Pylos 9”
#FreePylos9