Race for the Cure, Greece’s largest sporting event for a social cause, is taking place this morning in central Athens to raise awareness about breast cancer. Runners participating in the event have also shown their support for Panos Routsi, who lost his son in the 2023 Tempi railway disaster and has been on a hunger strike for 14 days, demanding permission to exhume his son’s body.
Many paused at Syntagma Square to shake his hand, hug him, and offer words of solidarity. Photographs from the scene show Routsi visibly moved by the public support.
(ΓΙΑΝΝΗΣ ΠΑΝΑΓΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ/EUROKINISSI)
(ΓΙΑΝΝΗΣ ΠΑΝΑΓΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ/EUROKINISSI)
Hunger Strike for Justice
Routsi, whose son tragically died in the Tempi railway accident, is demanding permission for the exhumation of his son’s body so that toxicological, forensic, and DNA tests can be conducted.
Photo by Melina Giannakouli for To Vima.com
On Friday, September 26, the Larissa District Prosecutor approved the exhumation only for identification purposes, denying the request for toxicological examination. Routsi has vowed to continue his hunger strike until his full request is met.
According to MEGA tv channel, the physician monitoring him noted that Routsi has lost more weight than expected and that his condition is being further strained by remaining actively on his feet and interacting with supporters rather than resting.
Legal Opinion
Criminal lawyer Vasilis Chirdaris told television audiences: “It is his right to request toxicological testing in addition to exhumation, and it is the authorities’ obligation to examine the request. There is no logical reason for refusal. All claims by victims’ relatives must be investigated, as European Court rulings confirm. What the father requests is reasonable, and it is inappropriate for the authorities to deny toxicological testing. This must be completed before the trial begins, otherwise the trial would need to be restarted with new evidence.”
Photo by Melina Giannakouli for To Vima.com
Nationwide Solidarity
Solidarity rallies for Panos Routsi are scheduled today, Sunday, September 28, at 18:30, in Syntagma Square and and numerous cities across Greece, as well as internationally:
- Athens – Syntagma
- Thessaloniki – Memory Tree
- Volos – Seafront
- Katerini – Eleftherias Square
- Agios Nikolaos – Central Square
- Chania – Agora Square
- Livadeia – Central Square
- Mesolongi – Central Square
- Agrinio – Central Square
- Tinos – Seafront
- Milos – Archaeological Museum Square
- Mytilene – Sappho Square
- Patras – Georgiou Square
- Preveza – Courthouse
- Arta – Central Square
- Lamia – Park Square
- Aigio – Ag. Lavras Square
- Santorini – Fira, Cathedral
- Ierapetra – Central Square
- Leros – Platanos Square
- Larissa – Central Square
- Kavala – Municipal Garden
- Samos – Vathy, Pythagoras Square
- Samos – Karlovasi, Central Square
- Aegina – Seafront
- Paros – Manto Mavrogenous Square
- Argos – Ag. Petrou Square
- Heraklion – Eleftherias Square
- Ioannina – Epirus Region
- Kozani – Nikis Square
- Rethymno – Unknown Soldier Square
- Chalkida – Post Office Square
- Corfu – Spianada Square
- Zakynthos – Ag. Markou Square
- Sparta – Central Square
- Tripoli – Petrinou Square
- Komotini – Central Square
- Veria – Town Hall Square
- Drama – Eleftherias Square
- Serres – Eleftherias Square
- Kalambaka – Riga Feraiou Square
- Alexandroupoli – Town Hall
- Kalamata – Central Square
- Cyprus – Limassol, 1st Pier Parking
- Iceland – Reykjavik (Friday 26/9, 18:00)
- USA – New York, Greek Consulate (Sunday 28/9, 11:30)
The main slogan of the gatherings reads: “Their lives are at risk, and the government’s criminal negligence is killing them.”
Participants are demanding:
- Approval for the exhumation of the victims
- A full, transparent investigation including family participation
- Accountability for all responsible parties in the Tempi tragedy
