Belarus Suspected Of Channeling Illegal Immigrants To Greece

A tragic discovery off the coast of Crete has reignited concerns within the European Union over the manipulation of migration routes, according to a detailed report by German newspaper DIE ZEIT.

The Hellenic Coast Guard located a vessel carrying 18 deceased migrants, while two survivors were rescued from the same boat. Authorities believe the victims endured days at sea without food or water and likely died from hypothermia, dehydration, and exhaustion. Port officials confirmed that the bodies had been dead for more than 24 hours before the vessel was found.

Rising Concerns Over Weaponised Migration Routes

Citing its own findings and investigations by German broadcasters WDR and NDR, DIE ZEIT reports a sharp increase in migration flows from eastern Libya to Greece in recent months. European security agencies now suspect that certain states may be deliberately engineering these movements.

According to these investigations, migrants are allegedly flown or transferred from Belarus to eastern Libya, where networks linked to the Haftar regime facilitate onward passages toward Crete. EU officials warn that both Russia and Belarus may be exploiting migration pressure as a geopolitical tool — accusations denied by both governments.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) notes that nearly 17,000 migrants arrived in Crete by early December, underscoring the significant shift in routes and volume.

Scrutiny on Libyan and Greek Coast Guards

The report also revisits longstanding criticism of the Libyan and Greek coast guards for their handling of migrant boats in distress. One of the deadliest Mediterranean shipwrecks in recent history occurred in June 2023 off Pylos, where more than 600 people died.

A later investigation by NDR cited survivor accounts alleging that the Greek Coast Guard attempted to tow the vessel toward Italy, a move which may have contributed to the catastrophic sinking. Greek judicial authorities have since filed charges against senior coast guard officials.

The discovery of the latest migrant vessel off Crete highlights the complex and increasingly dangerous dynamics of migration in the region. With concerns over state-led route manipulation and ongoing scrutiny of search-and-rescue practices, European agencies warn that the situation could worsen ahead of 2026 unless coordinated action is taken.