The deputy chairman of a committee set up by the Greek government to investigate the circumstances of the tragic 2023 Tempi train crash, which killed 57 people, has resigned amid media reports that its findings had spread confusion and were contradictory.

Dimitris Vervesos, president of the Athens Bar Association, recently stated in a memo to the appellate investigator that “the Greek public has been left with the impression that the Tempi crime has been tainted by an attempt to mislead.” However, within days, it was revealed that he had been in possession of expert investigator Anastasios Dedes‘ report since January 2024—a report that debunked all conspiracy theories surrounding the fireball that erupted immediately after the train collision. Despite having ordered the report himself, Vervesos merely submitted it to the investigator handling the case while continuing to speak of a “cover-up,” even though the report clearly stated that the fire was caused by the train collision, the electric arc generated, and the combustion of the transformer oils in the locomotive engine of the passenger train.

“No one can underestimate what happened yesterday. And it shouldn’t.” With this enigmatic statement to eading Greek new outlet protothema.gr, a close associate of PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis set the tone for the government’s approach to the massive and peaceful rallies of quite many hundreds of thousands of citizens across Greece demanding justice for the tragedy of Tempi.