Public support is mounting for the father of a young man killed in the Tempi train disaster, who has entered the seventh day of a dry hunger strike outside Greece’s parliament.
Panos Ruci, whose 22-year-old son Denni died in the 2023 railway crash, is refusing food in protest at prosecutors’ refusal to allow an exhumation of his son’s body. He argues that only a full forensic examination can reveal the true cause of death.
Each day, hundreds of people visit Ruci in Syntagma Square, the symbolic heart of Athens, to express solidarity. Long queues have formed as citizens sign books of support in his name. “I will stay here until the end,” he told Greek media. “I thank the people who support me. They give me strength. I see that people can’t take the lies anymore. They want a democracy without cover-ups.”
On Sunday evening, more than 50 cultural unions and professional associations — including the National Theatre’s employees’ union, the Greek Archaeologists’ Association, and the Panhellenic Federation of Entertainment Workers — publicly backed Ruci’s cause. In a joint statement, they condemned what they called the rushed closure of the Tempi investigation, arguing that crucial evidence was never added to the case file while those truly responsible remain shielded.
Among those at his side was Maria Karystianou, another relative of a victim, who has been outspoken about the absence of toxicology tests after the crash. “This should have been done automatically,” she said. “We will be here every day until they understand that without the exhumation nothing will end for us. We have even taken steps to appeal to European institutions. It is shameful that we must seek justice abroad.”
Other victims’ families have also joined the protests. Addressing the crowd, Theodoros Eleftheriadis, whose mother was killed in the disaster, urged citizens to stand with them, noting that lawyers are preparing new motions to have evidence added to the case file before it is closed.
Ruci is not alone in his hunger strike. Dimitris Oikonomopoulos, a retired bank employee from Aigio with no family connection to the crash, has also refused food in solidarity. He criticized both Greece’s executive and judicial authorities, saying he joined the protest to ensure the victims’ families are not left to fight alone.
Despite his growing weakness, Ruci has vowed to continue until his demand for an exhumation is granted.
