rsaegean.org | 24 February 2025
Developments in the Pylos shipwreck case:
Granting of refugee status to survivors and supplementary criminal investigation
In the summer of 2024, the Asylum Service had summarily rejected the asylum applications of survivors from Pakistan and Egypt as “manifestly unfounded,” under an expedited procedure. This occurred despite the fact that their claims had been pending for over a year, since the summer of 2023, when the shipwreck occurred. At that time, their return to their countries of origin had been ordered.
The lawyers representing the survivors and victims of the shipwreck supported their appeals at the second-instance level, before the Appeals Authority. At the end of 2024, the Appeals Authority granted them refugee status, acknowledging the risks of persecution they face in light of the specific circumstances of the shipwreck and the ongoing investigation into it.
It is worth noting that survivors of the Pylos shipwreck of Syrian and Palestinian origin had already been granted refugee status under earlier decisions by the Asylum Service.
The lawyers of RSA, with the support of the PROASYL Foundation, have represented a total of 26 survivors of the shipwreck in the asylum process, assisting their access to a secure protection status in Greece. Among them, 10 were also supported at the second-instance level before the Appeals Authority, which issued a positive decision granting them international protection status.
Regarding the criminal investigation into the tragic shipwreck off Pylos, according to information provided to us by the responsible prosecutor, a supplementary preliminary investigation has been reopened for the submission of written explanations.
We recall that in late December 2024, we were informed of the completion of the preliminary investigation of the case by the competent Prosecutor’s Office of the Piraeus Naval Court. This investigation, however, did not pursue accountability from the leadership of the Hellenic Coast Guard or the officials of the National Search and Rescue Coordination Centre and the Operations Centre, despite clear evidence of their liability emerging from the case file. The prosecutor’s office only called upon the crew of the Coast Guard vessel no. 920 and members of the Special Missions Unit (KEA) aboard it to provide written explanations.
Meanwhile, on 3 February 2025, the Greek Ombudsman announced the completion of its investigation into the shipwreck. Its report also highlights significant omissions in search and rescue duties by senior Coast Guard officers, pointing to strong indications of serious criminal liability for eight (8) senior officers.
As lawyers representing the survivors and victims, we call for the obvious: a thorough investigation and accountability for the responsible Coast Guard officers, who are burdened with actions and omissions that led to the shipwreck and the death of 600 people. We demand transparency and an in-depth examination of all possible evidence to ensure justice is served.