A group of aid workers who were put on trial in Greece for rescuing migrants on the island of Lesbos have been acquitted of all charges. The defendants had worked for the Emergency Response Centre International (ERCI), an NGO that rescued asylum-seekers at risk of drowning between 2015 and 2018. They were arrested seven years ago on accusations including human trafficking and other offenses, potentially facing up to 20 years in jail.
Case Details
The 24 former volunteers included Sara Mardini, a former Syrian migrant and competitive swimmer, whose story was featured in the Netflix drama "The Swimmers." She and others were arrested in 2018. They were cleared of some accusations, including espionage, in 2023. Their trial on the remaining charges of facilitating the illegal entry of foreigners into Greece, money-laundering, and membership of a criminal organization began last month.
Verdict and Justification
Presiding judge Vassilis Papathanassiou acquitted all defendants, stating their aim was "not to commit criminal acts but to provide humanitarian aid." Prosecutor Dimitris Smyrnis had earlier recommended their acquittal, emphasizing that "no independent basis establishing the criminal liability of the defendants has been demonstrated."
Evidence presented during the trial included a senior police officer's testimony regarding the defendants' use of an encrypted messaging service to share information about migrant boat locations. This information was reportedly not shared with Greek authorities. However, a Greek coast guard officer, Stavros Gagarellis, testified that the volunteers had cooperated closely with his organization.
The judge ruled that "a communication group on the internet cannot be regarded as a criminal organization" and that "waiting to rescue a human life cannot be considered facilitation of illegal entry." He added that none of the defendants attempted to help transported persons evade inspection by authorities.
Reactions to the Decision
Zacharias Kesses, the lawyer for Sara Mardini and defendant Sean Binder, commented on the duration of the legal process. Binder, an Irish-German lawyer who was held in pre-trial detention for three months in 2018, described feeling a mix of relief and anger, highlighting the impact of the allegations on his life and career. Eve Geddie of Amnesty International stated that the decision should signal to Greece and other European countries that solidarity, compassion, and defending human rights should be protected.