By Ahmet Gencturk
ATHENS (AA) - The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) said Tuesday it found Greece guilty in the case of the deadly shooting of a migrant child in 2015.
The court ruled that Greece violated the right-to-live clause of the European Convention of the Human Rights’ Article Two, it said in announcing its verdict in the case concerning the killing of an Iraqi minor by the coast guard near the Greek island of Symi.
An interception operation by the coast guard for migrants was carried out without minimizing the use of lethal force and the possible risks to life, the court said, highlighting the absence of evidence indicating specific preparation of the operation, specific control, or assessment of the risks arising from the use of weapons.
The court also said Greece failed to conduct an independent, thorough and effective investigation into the death of a hidden minor hit by a bullet aimed at one of the skippers of a boat transporting migrants during the interception operation.
Shortcomings in the investigation led to a loss of evidence and failed to establish the exact circumstances of the death and to identify and, where appropriate, punish those responsible, it added.
Greece was consequently ordered to pay €80,000 ($86,500) to the applicants and parents of the Iraqi child.