Leaked Audio Exposes Contradictions in Greek Shipwreck Narrative

A recent investigation unveils damning evidence challenging Greece’s formal explanation of the disastrous migrant shipwreck that claimed hundreds of lives.

Leaked audio recordings from the Greek Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) expose troubling contradictions in the official narrative regarding the shipwreck that occurred on June 14, 2023, claiming the lives of potentially 650 migrants. The migrant vessel, carrying approximately 750 people, sank in international waters—within Greece's designated rescue zone—after departing from Libya days prior, facing dire conditions at sea.

Survivors of the disaster alleged that the Greek Coast Guard exacerbated the situation during their attempted rescue, leading to the capsizing of the overcrowded ship. They accuse officials of coercing witnesses to suppress their accounts. While the Greek Coast Guard has consistently refuted these claims, asserting their lack of responsibility and that they acted on information indicating the migrants did not seek refuge in Greece, recent audio evidence raises significant questions.

The audiotapes obtained by Greek outlet News247.gr document a series of communications between the JRCC and the captain of the migrant vessel. During the initial call on June 13, an officer instructs the captain to declare to an approaching vessel that the migrants did not want to be taken to Greece. “Tell them: ‘We do not want to go to Greece,’” he states, emphasizing the need to relay this message.

A follow-up call later that evening reveals a different officer confirming the migrants' preference for Italy over Greece, stating, “Everybody screaming Italia.” The confirmation from the captain of the Lucky Sailor, a supply ship, indicates an alarming priority shift from humanitarian rescue to adherence to a narrative predetermined by the coast guard.

The aftermath of the disaster left many unanswered questions regarding the Greek Coast Guard's assertions that the boat was not in distress, with radar data indicating it had not moved for hours before sinking. This discrepancy calls into question the operational choices made during critical moments of the tragedy. A prior ruling by a Greek court absolving nine Egyptian individuals from the shipwreck charges further complicates the situation, suggesting a lack of jurisdiction in international waters and highlighting the inconsistencies in courtroom evidence against the accused.

Activists and human rights organizations such as Amnesty International are now demanding an independent inquiry into the incident, aiming to unravel the complexities surrounding this humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean. Legal representatives for the Egyptian defendants have voiced concerns over alleged cover-ups by Greek authorities, marking this as a significant humanitarian issue amidst rising scrutiny over the treatment of migrants in Europe.

The investigation continues as both the Greek Ombudsman and the Naval Court probe the circumstances of one of the deadliest maritime disasters in recent history.