Greek Opposition Demands Probe into Migrant Deaths After BBC Report

Greece's main opposition party, Syriza, is calling for a thorough investigation following a BBC report alleging the coastguard caused the deaths of dozens of migrants over the past three years. Witnesses claim nine migrants were deliberately thrown overboard.

Syriza's immigration spokesperson, Giorgos Psychogios, emphasized the party's commitment to human life and demanded accountability from the government. He criticized years of accusations being dismissed with labels like "anti-Greek" and "provocateurs."

The government maintains the BBC's claims are unsubstantiated but promises to examine all complaints. A spokesperson defended the coastguard, stating they save lives daily and shouldn't be targeted.

The BBC presented footage from the New York Times showing migrants loaded onto a Greek coastguard vessel and then abandoned on a dinghy. A former senior coastguard officer, mic still on, called it "obviously illegal" and an "international crime."

Greece faces long-standing accusations of illegal pushback, forcing migrants back to Turkey. This BBC report, with 43 alleged deaths in 15 incidents between 2020-2023, marks a new level of scrutiny. Initial sources for the report included local media, NGOs, and the Turkish coastguard.

Read Report BBC Reports: Aegean Migrant Deaths: Witness Accounts Challenge Greek Coastguard Actions