Violanta denies firing workers over explosion testimony, threatens to sue media over ‘fake news’

Greek biscuit maker Violanta has denied reports that it dismissed the employees who testified they had smelled gas before the devastating explosion at its factory near Trikala last January, which killed five workers, according to eKathimerini.

In a press statement issued on Monday, the company says: “No employee was fired by the company for reasons related to his testimony or its content. There have been no dismissals since the release of Violanta’s owner from pretrial detention.”

According to the statement, “the content of any testimony given before the competent authorities has not been and is not a criterion regarding any employee’s employment relationship with the company.” The company also threatened to sue the media outlets that published what it calls false claims.

These claims came after the victims’ families denounced the dismissal of witnesses and demanded that the owner’s release be revoked. Owner Kostas Tziortziotis was released from pretrial detention with restrictive conditions on 1 September; he, the plant’s safety technician and the chief foreman are charged with murder with possible intent.

Authorities, as eKathimerini reports, have blamed the 26 January explosion on a long-running propane leak from an underground pipe that gradually filled part of the factory with highly flammable gas. The investigation has found signs of safety and planning failures.