Greek authorities urged to launch full inquiry into Lesbos and Samos shipwrecks

ELAS released a joint communiqué from its Migration Policy and Shipping sectors, demanding a thorough, independent investigation into the shipwrecks that occurred off the coasts of Lesbos and Samos. The organization mourned the victims, noting that an infant was among those who died, and offered condolences to their families. It condemned the treatment of human lives as peripheral to migration policy and called for accountability where responsibility lies.

ELAS emphasized the need to dismantle smuggling circuits through targeted operations and international cooperation. The statement also called for a balanced migration strategy that protects lives, ensures safe legal pathways, and processes returns after fair asylum assessments. Finally, it warned that the Aegean cannot continue to become a “liquid graveyard” for migrants.