Violanta factory owner's release appealed by victim's family

The family of Vasiliki Skamardoni, a victim of the fatal explosion at the Violanta biscuit factory on January 26, 2026, has filed an appeal against the release of the company's owner, Kostas Tziortziotis.

Represented by lawyers Vaso Pantazi and Dimostheni Pantazopoulou, the family is petitioning the Larissa Prosecutor of Appeals to challenge the decision made by the Trikala Misdemeanor Court. The family argues that the owner should not have been released before completing his six-month provisional detention, noting that the decision went against the prosecutor's recommendation.

Furthermore, the legal team is presenting new evidence to upgrade the charges against the defendants. They are seeking to change the prosecution from manslaughter through negligence to manslaughter with potential intent, alleging that the owner was aware of the propane leak that caused the explosion.