“Greece is an orderly state, every complaint is checked and there are findings in all cases,” said the government representative Pavlos Marinakis invited to comment on it BBC article, according to which the Coast Guard responsible for the death of 40 migrants in the Mediterranean in the last three years.

In fact, the publication cites eyewitnesses – including 9 people who were deliberately thrown into the water.

“What is mentioned in the publication is not proven, the women and men of the Coast Guard save dozens and in some cases hundreds of human lives every day” noted Mr. Marinakis, while also underlining that Greece in cooperation with Turkey have achieved key blows in networks of traffickers.

Coast Guard Sources: Coast Guard vehemently denies all allegations of illegal activity – Narrative that feeds criminal networks exploiting immigrants

“The Officers of the Coast Guard-Hellenic Coast Guard, as responsible for guarding the maritime borders of Greece and the European Union, operate around the clock with efficiency, a high sense of responsibility, professionalism but also absolute respect for human life and human rights, according to with international and EU law”, say the sources of the Coast Guard – Hellenic Coast Guard.

They add that their actions in the maritime field are in line with the country’s international obligations, in particular with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS Convention) and the International Convention on Search and Rescue at Sea (SAR Convention).

They emphasize that throughout the refugee/immigrant crisis, hundreds of thousands of immigrants have been rescued by the Coast Guard Hellenic Coast Guard (LS-EL.AKT.). Specifically, according to the same sources, from 2015 to 2024, the Coast Guard – Hellenic Coast Guard has rescued 251,543 third-country nationals who were in danger at sea, in a total of 6,185 incidents. “The flawless execution of this noble mission has been recognized by the international community,” they note.

Regarding allegations of illegal acts (which include alleged re-promotions, violent behavior and/or instructions in this direction), they emphasize that the operational practices of L.S.-EL.AKT. fully comply with the applicable international and national legal framework as well as with the highest moral duty of saving human life at sea. “Therefore, the L.S.-EL.AKT. categorically rejects accusations of illegal activities of any kind.” typically referred to.

According to the same sources, in case of alleged deviations from the appropriate behavior, the mechanisms of internal investigation and disciplinary control are activated, independently or in parallel with the judicial proceedings or investigations conducted by other competent authorities. “The L.S.-EL.AKT. fully cooperates with these Authorities, providing all available data and information. “In any case, all complaints received have been evaluated for the sufficiency of their elements, regarding the assessment for further internal investigation of the case or not”is indicated indicatively and they add:

“Reports, statements or “testimonies” taken outside the framework of the above institutional procedures, lack the necessary impartiality and guarantees of official procedures.

Additionally, it should be emphasized that equating effective border control with “pushbacks” is a narrative that feeds criminal networks that exploit migrants in the worst possible way. These networks apply criminal practices, boarding migrants on overloaded and unseaworthy ships, in most cases without life jackets, during the night hours and under bad weather conditions, putting their lives at risk from the very first moment of boarding and throughout throughout their journey to Europe. In this regard, journalistic highlighting and condemnation of such criminal practices can play an important role in raising awareness in countries of origin as well as among migrants about the dangers of these journeys, which can lead to tragic incidents.”

As reported by the BBC, members of the investigation who contacted a former official of the Greek Coast Guard, showed footage of the video they took, with him admitting that such an act is “obviously illegal” and an “international crime”.

The network argues that the Greek government has been accused of forced return policies – that is, of sending migrants who passed through our country back to Turkey, which violates the provisions of international law.

Complaints against the Hellenic Coast Guard by the BBC for illegal repatriation of migrants

It is recalled that today’s report by the BBC accuses the Greek coast guard of illegal repatriations of migrants which have caused the death of more than 40 people, in 15 different incidents between May 2020 and 2023.

The accusations, according to the British media, arise after video analysis and from eyewitnesses, who even complain that members of the coast guard deliberately threw people into the sea, in one case with their hands tied, with the intention of drowning.

The details are summarized in a post on the BBC’s website which announces a special telecast on Monday night on BBC Two.

The publication notes that the Greek Coast Guard strongly rejects all accusations of illegal actions.

However, an excerpt from the television documentary is shown showing a former senior officer of the coast guard admitting, without knowing that his microphone was open, that what was contained in a video shown to him by the production was “clearly illegal”, i.e. the boarding from a Greek island to port boat of a group of migrants, including children. This group was then allegedly abandoned in a boat.