Two fishermen acquitted in death of former minister Sifis Valirakis

On October 8, 2026, the Mixed Jury Court of Athens acquitted two fishermen accused of the manslaughter of former minister and PASOK official Sifis Valirakis. The trial, which concluded after one year, resulted in a majority verdict of six to one. The two professional judges and four jurors voted for acquittal, while the court president dissented, voting for conviction in line with the prosecutor's request.

The proceedings were marked by high public interest and attended by several former ministers, including Nikos Sifounakis, Kostas Laliotis, and Michalis. Upon the announcement of the verdict, supporters of the defendants expressed relief. Legal representatives for the Valirakis family immediately announced their intention to file an appeal to ensure the case is reviewed at a secondary level, continuing the long-running legal dispute over the circumstances of the minister's death.