Greece begins espionage trial of 24 aid workers

ATHENS, Nov 18 (BBC): More than two dozen aid workers will go on trial over their role in helping migrants reach Greece between 2016 and 2018 on Thursday.

The defendants face a raft of charges, including espionage, forgery and the unlawful use of radio frequencies.

Human rights groups have condemned the trial as being politically motivated and Amnesty International has called the charges "farcical".

Lesbos, the island at the centre of the migration crisis, will host the trial.

Among the 24 defendants, 17 of whom are foreign nationals, is Syrian refugee Sarah Mardini, the sister of the Olympic swimmer Yusra Mardini. The siblings came to international attention in 2015 after dragging their refugee boat to safety when the engine failed.