Greece’s watchdog summons head of coast guard to explain deadly shipwreck – POLITICO

Greek Ombudsman Andreas Pottakis then set up an independent investigation into the case, which could be completed by the fall.

Greek officials, who spoke to POLITICO on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to talk, said the ombudsman had summoned more than a dozen Greek officials to testify. Among those is the head of the Hellenic Coast Guard Vice Admiral Georgios Alexandrakis, whose term was renewed by the conservative Greek government last February.

Officials from the Greek coast guard and the Greek ombudsman declined to comment.

Survivors say the Greek coast guard tied up the vessel and attempted to pull it, causing the boat to sway, which the Greek authorities strongly deny. Other critics say that the Greek authorities should have acted faster to keep the vessel from capsizing.

Frontex said it received no reply from Greece after it offered to send a plane to monitor the overcrowded boat. Italy warned of dead children on the migrant ship hours before it capsized.

Greece has been repeatedly accused of migrant “pushbacks” by international organizations and numerous detailed investigative reports in international media. The Greek government denies these allegations.