Natasha never thought that one day she would be fighting for the rights of refugees in court. She was actually a lawyer in the commercial sector. But during the ‘long summer of migration’ her life changed. She went to Lesbos to see if she could help with legal advice. After realising how urgent the need was, she founded the Legal Centre Lesvos. Then, in the summer of 2023, the deadliest shipwreck in the Mediterranean occurred off the coast of Pylos. An estimated 600 refugees died. Nine survivors were directly arrested and charged with smuggling, causing a shipwreck, illegal entry and forming and belonging to a criminal organisation. Natasha and her team represent two of them. In May 2024, the case is dismissed by the Greek criminal court. After Muhammeds release from prison, he joined the lawsuit of 53 survivors against the greek coastguard. In his case and in the case of two illegal pushbacks, Natasha will go all the way to the European Court of Human Rights.
Participant: Insa Onken