Three years after the worst railway tragedy in modern Greek history, the trial for the Tempi accident began in the city of Larissa, where 57 people lost their lives, 6 of whom were of Albanian origin.
The trial, long-awaited by the victims' families and public opinion, took place in a tense atmosphere, but was interrupted on the first day, due to inadequate conditions and overcrowding in the courtroom.
It was the strong reactions as soon as the session began, regarding the lack of space and security conditions, that forced the court to postpone the process until April 1. The hall was filled with victims' families, survivors, dozens of journalists and about 250 lawyers, many of whom remained standing for hours.
"Justice would be for the children and those who were killed to be here today. We want punishment, for the guilty, those who are truly responsible, to go to prison," said Pavlos Aslanidis, president of the Victims' Families Association.
Relatives of the victims protested, calling the situation an insult to the memory of the missing. They demand a full investigation into the tragedy and the punishment of those responsible, while emphasizing that justice has been delayed for too long.
"This process and this file clearly show all the corruption of the Greek state. That is precisely why we are here today to judge the corruption that killed our children. We hope for a serious and fair trial," said Christos Vlachos, father of one of the victims.
There are 36 people in the dock, including railway managers and employees responsible for the operation of the security system. More than 350 witnesses are expected to give evidence, including survivors and family members of the victims.
Citizens and organizations gathered outside the courthouse in solidarity, while protesters wrote the names of the victims in red ink, demanding justice and accountability for the disaster that shook the entire country. The process is expected to last a long time, while the victims' families declare that they will continue the fight until the full truth is revealed.
