Senior judge resigns amid pressure claims in Greece’s “deleted videos” case

A senior judge in Greece has reportedly resigned following alleged pressure linked to the high-profile “deleted videos” case, intensifying concerns over judicial independence and due process in the country.

According to a report by Estia newspaper, senior judge Fotios Muzakis stepped down after facing pressure related to decisions in the ongoing trial concerning missing surveillance footage from a freight train incident in Thessaloniki.

The case centers on security camera recordings from a cargo train at a station in Thessaloniki, which are believed to contain crucial evidence about the train’s movements prior to a collision. However, during court proceedings, allegations emerged that the footage had been manually deleted, sparking public outrage and legal controversy.

The report claims that Muzakis was pressured to rule that the presiding judge’s withdrawal from the case—citing verbal attacks and external pressure—was legally justified. The withdrawal request was ultimately accepted by the Larisa Criminal Court, leading to an indefinite postponement of the trial and raising the possibility of restarting proceedings from the beginning.

Muzakis is said to have questioned the legal basis of these developments, warning that restarting the trial could undermine the integrity of the judicial process. Concerns have also been raised about repeated changes in the composition of the court and procedural disruptions, which may jeopardize a fair and consistent trial.

In addition to the deleted footage, reports suggest that other video evidence allegedly obtained shortly after the incident was not properly considered during the proceedings, further deepening the controversy.

The developments have triggered a broader debate in Greece over the independence of the judiciary and the handling of sensitive cases involving potential evidence tampering.