Sunday Times Labels Greece Among Europe’s Most Corrupt Nations in Wake of Tempi Rail Tragedy

In a scathing report titled “Two years after rail disaster ‘cover-up’, Greece is angrier than ever,” the Sunday Times has branded Greece as “one of Europe’s most corrupt countries,” spotlighting the unresolved Tempi train collision that killed 57 people, mostly young, in February 2023.

The British newspaper criticises a systemic culture of impunity and cover-up within Greece’s state mechanisms, accusing the government and political system of shielding those responsible for the tragedy.

The report centers on Maria Karystianou, whose 19-year-old daughter, Marti, died in the disaster. From a grieving mother, Karystianou has become a prominent advocate for justice, leading a movement demanding accountability. She revealed a chilling audio from a passenger’s phone, recorded post-collision, which contradicted official claims of “instant death.” The recording captured Marti’s friend, Francesca, saying, “Marthi, we’re going to die, I love you,” and later, “I don’t have oxygen,” indicating victims were alive and conscious for minutes amid the fire that followed the crash.

Karystianou told the Sunday Times, “These audio documents showed our people were conscious, talking, aware of what was happening. For three horrific minutes, Marti was alive.” She questions who concealed this evidence and why, pointing to a broader failure of accountability. The report notes that the tragedy sparked Greece’s largest protests since the junta era, with citizens demanding justice for the 57 victims.

“In Greece, politicians are never to blame for anything,” Karystianou said, highlighting a deep-rooted issue. “All I want is justice, so this never happens again. That’s what my daughter would want.” The Sunday Times argues that the Tempi case exposes a clientelist system where state negligence and cover-ups persist, reinforcing Greece’s reputation for corruption in Europe.