In a landmark decision, a Greek court acquitted nine Egyptian men, known as the ‘Pylos 9,’ accused of causing the deadly Adriana shipwreck off the coast of Greece last June. The court ruled it lacked jurisdiction over the case.
The fishing trawler Adriana, carrying over 700 migrants from Pakistan, Syria, and Egypt, sank on June 14, 2023, in one of the Mediterranean’s deadliest maritime disasters. Only 104 survived, and 82 bodies were recovered near the Peloponnese peninsula.
The ‘Pylos 9’, aged 21 to 41, were arrested hours after the incident and held for 11 months on charges of migrant smuggling, causing a shipwreck, and participating in a criminal organization. Facing potential life sentences, they were brought to trial in Kalamata, Greece, on May 21, 2024.
Defense lawyers argued the incident occurred in international waters, rendering a Greek court unable to try the case. The court accepted this argument and acquitted the men. As the decision was announced, some relatives of the accused hugged each other and cried.
The men, who denied any wrongdoing, expressed confusion and distress over their detention. One man said, “I don’t know why I am in prison. I want to see my family,” while another stated, “I was in hospital after surviving the shipwreck with difficulty, and I find myself accused. I don’t know why.”
Protesters gathered outside the court before the trial, leading to a brief clash with police. Two people were injured and at least three were detained. Human rights groups and civil society organizations celebrated the acquittal, viewing the trial as part of a broader trend of criminalizing asylum seekers.
Many believe the Greek coast guard was responsible for the tragedy, alleging the boat capsized during a failed towing attempt. The defense claimed the coast guard monitored the boat for hours before attempting a rescue. The coast guard has denied these allegations, stating they communicated with those on board who “refused any help.”
A separate investigation into the Greek coast guard’s potential liability is ongoing. Legal NGOs have joined the case on behalf of 53 survivors, accusing Greek authorities of responsibility for the disaster.