Video footage emerged on Sunday showing Greek Coast Guards deliberately sinking a life raft full of Syrian migrants so that the Turkish would deal with them. The footage reportedly recorded on November 12 shows a Greek-marked ship jabbing a pole into an inflatable raft in the Aegean as 58 passengers scream and shout while sinking.

The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that the video is doctored and categorically denies it took place. A statement issued on Sunday, states:

1. The Hellenic Coastguard categorically denies the articles in the foreign press, as well as the doctored audiovisual material on a foreign website, according to which a Hellenic Coastguard vessel allegedly tried to sink a boat carrying refugees. Moreover, we obviously deny any effort by members of the crew to draw near to their large vessel a small inflatable craft by using a nautical hook (that is, a tool used in accordance with international shipping technique and practices for this purpose) while a nearby Turkish coastguard vessel assisted the rescue operation by lighting and facilitating all of the actions with a spotlight.

2. We believe it to be at the very least contradictory to allege that the Hellenic Coastguard supposedly follows such practices, which are incompatible with the values of our culture and which are condemnable at a time when the Hellenic Coastguard, from early 2015 until today, has saved some 90,000 refugees from the sea in Search and Rescue operations.

3. We also categorically deny that there was an exchange of relevant dialogue between the Heads of the Coastguards of Greece and Turkey, as presented in articles in the Turkish press.