Greek court acquits aid workers who helped rescue migrants crossing in small boats

A Greek court has acquitted a group of 16 aid workers and volunteers of charges linked with their efforts to rescue migrants making the dangerous sea crossing in small boats from neighboring Turkey

ATHENS, Greece -- A Greek court on Tuesday acquitted a group of 16 aid workers and volunteers of charges connected with their efforts to rescue migrants making the dangerous sea crossing in small boats from neighboring Turkey.

The trial on the eastern island of Lesbos on espionage and other charges had attracted international scrutiny, with rights groups accusing Greece of targeting the defendants for their humanitarian work.

While arrivals have dropped in recent years, Lesbos remains a major landing point for migrants seeking a better life in Europe. On Tuesday the Greek coast guard said two people died when a small migrant boat was wrecked on a rocky shore there during an overnight storm. It said 57 survivors made it onto land, and one more person was reported missing.

Tuesday's court ruling followed a proposal by the prosecution for all the 16 defendants' acquittal, one of the defense lawyers, Haris Petsikos, told The Associated Press. The 16 defendants were acquitted of misdemeanor charges of espionage and assisting a criminal organization.

“The prosecutor clearly said that there was no proof any of the defendants did anything illegal,” he said. “And the court agreed.”