Public support is growing for the father of a young man killed in the Tempi train disaster. Panos Ruci entered the ninth day of his hunger strike outside Greece’s parliament, demanding finally justice for his son 23-year-old son Denni.
Panos Ruci, whose 22-year-old son Denni was killed in the 2023 Tempi train crash, is refusing food in protest at prosecutors’ refusal to allow an exhumation of his son’s body.
The father argues that only a full forensic examination can reveal the true cause of his son death.
The father placed himself at the point where his son’s name is written, on the informal monument in front of the Unknown Soldier, which has been created with the names of the 57 victims.
Each day, hundreds of people visit Ruci in Syntagma Square, the symbolic heart of Athens, to express solidarity with his cause.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BWfXyPA2q/
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 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.
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 joined the hunger strike 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.
On the 9th day of his hunger strike, Panos Ruci, who has some underlying health issues is weak but he vows to continue until his demand for an exhumation is granted.
On Tuesday, the father of Panos Ruci appeared in front of the Parliament telling media:
Συγκλονιστική δήλωση του πατέρα του απεργού πείνας Πάνου Ρούτσι, στο σημείο μαρτυρίου του:
— Έφυγε το εγγόνι μου, το παιδί μου θα το πάει μέχρι τέλους.
Αν “φύγει” κ το παιδί μου θα έρθω εδώ κ θα σκοτωθώ και εγώ.
Δεν αντέχω άλλο… pic.twitter.com/ZmsJo0JnBm— Πεν Νταλαούρα (@ntalaoura) September 23, 2025
“My grandchild is gone, my child will take the issue till the end. Should also my child be “gone” I will come here and I will also kill myself. I can’t take it anymore.”
Another solidarity meeting is scheduled at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, September 24, outside the Parliament.
Supreme Court: No right to intervene in exhumation disputes
Yesterday Monday, Greece’s Supreme Court declared it was not in charge to intervene in exhumation disputes following recent requests made by parents of Tempi victims.
The Supreme Court “has no right to intervene in the matter,” it said in a statement.
“The Supreme Court cannot have any say or role in the decision-making of the judicial bodies, within the framework of their judicial work, nor can it interfere in their judicial judgment. Also, it cannot order the performance or non-performance of acts by judicial officers at any procedural stage, even if a case is pending,” the SC stressed.
