During her speech at the press conference held by the Association of People Affected by the Tempe Disaster of 28 February, 2023, at the Journalists’ Union of Athens (ESΙEA), the president Maria Karystianou delivered a powerful address, once again condemning those in power. She pointed out that "the lawmakers have devalued the railway system, they squandered the funds of the 717 Contract, they failed to protect the passengers, and they are still putting lives at risk. They appointed unfit people to positions of responsibility, they immediately ordered a cover-up, and they assigned key figures to help support their narrative. The government has full control over the investigation, deciding where the focus of the inquiries will lie, ensuring that the story of human error as the sole cause can protect them once again."

“The Tempe crash is a crime,” she continued, “because the responsible minister publicly guaranteed safety just days before, yet no safety measures were in place. There was no remote control system, no trained stationmasters, no coordination, and no adherence to protocols. Millions of euros from the EU and the State were allocated to projects that never materialised – vital projects that remained on paper. These millions of euros ended up as debt and fines for the Greek state for all that wasn’t done.”

Karystianou also highlighted the inertia of the judiciary, explaining, “We were forced to search on our own to prove that our children were burned by flammable chemicals. We reached our limits just to make our voices of despair heard and to bring the truth to light. And today, two years later, we are watching the largest case of misinformation and public deception. We, who have no obligation to investigate, have voluntarily taken on this responsibility, exposing all the criminal acts and omissions of the authorities. Astonishingly, the government is now accusing us of deliberately hiding the truth!”

“We’re searching for the truth – clear and undeniable – and we won’t stop. We’re looking for everyone who bears responsibility. We’re demanding justice for the 57 lives lost, for those who never made it home. We want to make sure a tragedy like this never happens again, because what’s missing is the light of real justice. We long for a fairer world – one where people can breathe freely. And we will get there, because we believe the truth is on our side. Justice is like the sun – and no amount of money can hide it forever, it will always find a way to shine through.”

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