• Seventeen coastguards charged for involvement in deadly 2023 migrant shipwreck near Pylos.
• At least 82 bodies recovered, but up to 650 migrants feared dead after Adriana sank.
• Survivors allege Greek coastguards caused the disaster with a botched towing attempt.
• Legal team calls charges a substantial step forward for justice for victims.
• Greek authorities maintain their commitment to human rights in rescue operations.

A naval court in Greece has charged 17 members of the Hellenic Coast Guard for their alleged role in the 2023 Pylos shipwreck, one of the deadliest migrant maritime disasters of the decade. The incident occurred on June 14, 2023, when the overcrowded Adriana fishing vessel sank in international waters within Greece's search-and-rescue zone. Official reports indicate at least 82 bodies have been recovered, but fears persist that up to 650 people may have drowned, including numerous women and children trapped below deck, with only 104 of the estimated 750 passengers surviving, according to BBC, Anadolu Agency, TRT World, and Middle East Eye.

The indicted coastguards are facing serious charges, including "causing a shipwreck," "dangerous interference with maritime transport," and "failure to provide assistance," particularly concerning the actions of the captain of the coastguard vessel LS-920. Four senior officials have also been charged with "exposing others to danger." The charges follow claims from survivors that the coastguards' attempt to tow the Adriana led to its capsizing, a claim that contradicts the Greek authorities' version of events, according to BBC, Anadolu Agency, and Middle East Eye.

Reports indicate that coastguards had delayed beginning a search-and-rescue operation while monitoring the Adriana for several hours before it sank. Survivors have recounted that the Greek vessel caused their boat to capsize by quickly moving off after attaching a towing rope. After the disaster, several survivors claimed they were pressured by officials to remain silent about the coastguard's role, with one stating, "The coast guard told us to ‘shut up’" when discussing the incident, according to TRT World and Middle East Eye.

The legal team representing the victims has hailed the charges as "a substantial and self-evident development" in seeking justice for those affected by the tragedy. They emphasize it as a significant step toward accountability nearly two years following the disaster. The 17 coastguard members are expected to be questioned by the Deputy Prosecutor of the Piraeus Naval Court in the upcoming weeks, which will determine whether a full trial will proceed or the charges might be dismissed, according to BBC and Anadolu Agency.

Greek government representatives maintain that the coast guard respects human rights and has conducted over 250,000 rescues at sea over the past decade, asserting their commitment while facing these serious allegations, according to Middle East Eye.