Greece denied allegations from a BBC report accusing its coast guard of preventing migrants from reaching Greek shores, resulting in dozens of deaths, Associated Press reports.
The BBC report claimed that 43 migrants drowned in 15 incidents between 2020-2023, with some allegedly thrown into the water by Greek authorities. The reports included testimonies from a Cameroonian man who claimed he and two others were thrown into the sea by the Greek coast guard, resulting in the other two drowning. A Syrian man reported that his group was left adrift in life rafts by the Greek coast guard, leading to several deaths before Turkish authorities rescued them. Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis dismissed these claims, stating there is no evidence to support them and emphasizing that all complaints are investigated thoroughly.
Greece, a key entry point for migrants into the EU, has faced repeated accusations from charities and human rights groups of illegally returning migrants to Turkey, which Greece denies.
