Greek court delivers hefty sentences in migrant smuggling case
A Greek court has sentenced two Russian citizens to a total of 380 years in prison and a fine of approximately €3.8 million for smuggling dozens of immigrants, including children.
The arrest occurred in the autumn of last year when officers of the Greek Coast Guard discovered an overloaded boat with 74 migrants near the island of Astypalea in the Aegean Sea. The immigrants were mainly from Iraq and Iran.
The rescued migrants were safely transported to shore, while two Russians suspected of organizing the smuggling were arrested. The convicted individuals have no right to appeal the court’s decision.
According to UN data, since the start of this year, 52,000 migrants have illegally reached Greece, most of whom arrived by sea from Turkey. The Associated Press agency reports that throughout 2022, this number was about 49,000 people.
On Tuesday, the Greek and Turkish coast guards agreed to intensify actions against human smugglers on one of the main migration routes to Europe, which leads from the western coast of Turkey to the Greek islands.
The Greek government has been accused for several years of so-called pushbacks of immigrants to Turkey. Under international law, this is illegal. In conversations with the media, the Greek Coast Guard defends itself against these accusations and denies these reports.
In 2023, 263,048 people arrived in Europe by sea, 16 per cent (41,561) of whom came through Greece. From 2015 to 2024, the Greek Coast Guard is reported to have rescued 250,834 people in connection with 6,161 incidents recorded at sea.
