Greece’s Supreme Court has ordered an urgent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Vasilis Kalogirou, an apparent change in tack following public allegations of foul play.
39-year-old Vasilis Kalogirou went missing at the end of December 2024. As speculation grew over his sudden disappearance, theories percolated online suggesting sinister intentions as his mother, Larissa Appeals Prosecutor Sofia Apostolaki, was handling the investigation into the deadly Tempi train crash.
The 2023 Tempi rail disaster, which claimed the lives of 57 people, has led to a host of controversies and has left the Greek government facing several allegations of a cover-up and nationwide protests. The online theories tied this disappearance neatly into the allegations of a cover-up.
In early January 2025, Supreme Court Prosecutor Georgia Adeilini and the Union of Greek Public Prosecutors issued statements dismissing any connection between Kalogirou’s disappearance and his mother’s judicial duties.
Private investigator Giorgos Tsoukalis, who had been hired by Kalogiros’ family, also ruled out any link to Apostolaki’s judicial work, stating: “Despite the fact that in the public mind a scenario emerged linking Vasilis’ disappearance to his mother’s profession—because, as an appellate prosecutor, she had handled the Tempi case—I would like to say that both the family and I exclude it. It is something that does not concern us.”
This week, Kalogiros’ body was found under circumstances that raised new concerns– 18km from where he disappeared and with several injuries. His mother, who had initially denied any link to her judicial work, publicly suggested that her son may have been the victim of a criminal act.
This turn of events led to political controversy. SYRIZA leader Socrates Famellos criticized Supreme Court Adeilini in Parliament, questioning why she had been so quick to rule out a connection between the case and Apostolaki’s judicial role.
In response, today Adeilini defended her earlier statements, asserting that Apostolaki had contacted the Greek Prosecutors’ Association and the Supreme Court Prosecutor’s Office, requesting them to publicly deny any connection between her son’s disappearance and ongoing investigations: “That was the reason for the statements made at the beginning of January by both the Prosecutor’s Office of the Supreme Court and the Union of Greek Public Prosecutors, which, in short, condemned any connection between the painful human incident of the disappearance of the son of the above-mentioned colleague and any form of exploitation, under the guise of allegedly informing the public,” she stated today. “In any case, every possible cause of death of Vasilis Kalogiros is already being investigated.”
Shortly after this first statement on Thursday, Adeilini ordered an urgent preliminary investigation into Kalogiros’ death. In her directive to the Larissa First Instance Prosecutor’s Office, she stated: “Please conduct an urgent preliminary examination to determine the causes of the death of Vassilis Kalogiros, giving the necessary, at your discretion, directions to the police authorities already involved in the matter and conducting an ex officio preliminary investigation.”
Apostolaki has been called to testify and is expected to provide names and evidence to support her claims. “In this context, you should yourself obtain a statement from Mrs Sophia Apostolaki, who has publicly expressed suspicions of a criminal act against her son, in order to name the person or persons she considers responsible for it, and to provide the relevant evidence,” Adeilini instructed.
Kalogiros’ father and his uncle—a former judge and ex-MP of the “Niki” party—have also been summoned for questioning.
