Project Elpida e.V.

ADVOCACY BLOG
In February, a deadly collision between a Hellenic Coast Guard patrol vessel and a boat carrying people on the move near Chios left 14 people dead and 25 injured. A narrative fueled by Greek government representatives, which targeted survivors, began unraveling soon after. Attention shifted away from the circumstances of the collision, as a male passenger was detained on smuggling charges based on testimonies that were later withdrawn, while officials publicly defended the Coast Guard and questioned the credibility of eyewitnesses, lawyers, and NGOs. In the meantime, other passengers have come forward to publicly dispute the official account, saying they received no warning signals before the crash, but saw the Greek coast guard speeding towards their boat. With the patrol vessel’s cameras reportedly not activated, key evidence that could clarify what happened is missing.
While this discourse around public accountability and criminalization unfolds once again, Greece passed a new migration law that introduces severe penalties for NGO workers accused of “facilitating” irregular migration, including prison sentences and heavy fines. The law also ascribes disproportionate capabilities onto the Minister himself, raising serious questions about democratic power distribution. As critics warn that these legal and institutional frameworks actively intimidate civil society and further the prosecution of humanitarian work, we take a look at the state of human rights and migration policy in Greece.

Read the full blog entry on our website (link in bio).