The Greek parliament set up a committee on Tuesday to investigate allegations against a former deputy minister of obstructing a previous investigation into the country’s 2023 disastrous train crash. Human Rights Watch welcomed the decision as an opportunity to address the broader decline of the rule of law.
The former deputy minister Christos Triantopoulos is facing allegations of obstructing the investigations by unlawfully hiding debris and tampering with the crash site. An investigative report of the National Air and Rail Accident Investigation Authority found that the removal of the victims debris and the improper restoration of the accident scene led to the loss of crucial evidence.
HRW noted that the investigation into Triantopoulos is in line with the public demands for transparency regarding the circumstances and the causes of the accident. The group also emphasized the necessity to conduct an independent investigation and hold accountable any public officials involved in the incident. This is crucial for preventing similar disasters and restoring public trust in the government and the judiciary.
The Tempi train crash occurred on February 28, 2023 when a passenger train collided with a freight train after the former diverted onto the latter’s track. National authorities attributed the crash to a human error. However, mass protests erupted afterward, accusing the government of neglecting the country’s infrastructure and obstructing investigations into the potential involvement of public officials.
In November 2022, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation prior to the train crash into the potential misuse of European funds by Greek authorities, which were intended to modernize the safety system of Greece’s railway network. Relatedly, the head of the department for railway safety at the Hellenic Air and Rail Accident Investigation Authority revealed in an interview that Greece’s railways operated with outdated equipment and that there had been insufficient investment in maintenance.
However, the government rejected the European prosecutor’s request to investigate the potential criminal liability of two former transport ministers in January 2024.
In January 2025, thousands of protesters gathered outside the parliament following the release of audio recordings of victims calling for help. On Tuesday, Triantopoulos resigned ahead of a parliamentary session to debate the formation of an independent investigative committee. Protests continue across Greece as the parliament debates a no-confidence motion against the current government.