Allegations that witnesses were dismissed after the Violantha explosion

Allegations that employees who testified to the authorities were pressured or dismissed have become part of the judicial investigation into the fatal explosion at the Violantha factory in Trikala. The company rejects the allegations as false.

The family of Vasiliki Skabardoni, one of five employees killed in the January 26, 2026 explosion, submitted a memorandum to the Larissa Appeals Prosecutor seeking to overturn the decision to release company owner Konstantinos Tziortziotis from pre-trial detention under restrictive conditions.

According to the memorandum and media reports citing victims’ relatives and employees, people who had provided or were due to provide evidence about conditions at the factory before and after the explosion were dismissed or forced to “resign.” At least two cases are cited. In one, an employee with 25 years of service was reportedly dismissed on the grounds of staff redundancy after voluntarily appearing before the investigating judge and testifying about alleged pressure on employees.

Tziortziotis was placed in pre-trial detention on February 18, 23 days after the fatal explosion, and released under restrictive conditions on September 1.

The family also argues that the company’s management structure has remained largely unchanged and that Tziortziotis continues to serve as CEO. According to the memorandum, his continued administrative and financial influence creates a risk of influencing key witnesses, several of whom are or were employed by the company.

VIOLANTA S.A. rejects the allegations. In a statement, the company said that “no employee has been dismissed for reasons related to their testimony or its content” and that “no dismissals have taken place since the owner of VIOLANTA was released.” It added that statements given to the authorities have never been a factor in employment decisions and said it would exercise its legal rights to protect its interests.

A decision on the request to overturn Tziortziotis’s release is pending. If the request is granted and an appeal is filed, the case will be referred to the Appeals Judicial Council.

Sources: RealNews, News24/7 [1], [2], Ef.Syn.