Her name has become inextricably linked with the Tempe train disaster. On 28 February 2023, 57 people aboard a passenger train lost their lives in a catastrophic collision that shocked the entire country. Among the victims was Martha Psaropoulou — the daughter of Maria Karystianou — whose death became the catalyst for her mother’s relentless pursuit of justice.
From Paediatrician to Public Advocate
A paediatrician based in Thessaloniki, Karystianou found herself at the centre of national attention in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy — speaking out consistently and taking concrete action. She delivered dozens of testimonies before Greek and European institutions, including the Hellenic Parliament’s investigative committee and the European Parliament. Her clarity, dignity, and unwavering commitment earned widespread respect across Greek society and cemented her role as a symbolic figurehead of a broad social movement demanding accountability and reform.
A Life of Service
Born in Thessaloniki, Karystianou studied medicine at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and later specialised in paediatrics in the UK. Since 2010, she has run her own private practice and serves as an external collaborator at the Inter-Balkan Medical Centre and the Agios Loukas Clinic in Thessaloniki.
A Movement Takes Shape
In the days following the Tempe disaster, she launched a sustained campaign — not only for justice for her daughter, but for all 57 victims. She became the voice of grieving families during massive rallies at Athens’ Syntagma Square, drawing immense public support, empathy, and solidarity.
On 3 May 2023 — just months after the accident — she co-founded the Tempe 2023 Victims’ Association, a civil society organisation formed by relatives of the victims. She served as its president from its establishment in 2023 until her resignation from the board in January 2026.
A Symbol for Many
Karystianou was never merely an individual. To the public, she embodied all the relatives who had lost children, parents, and siblings in the crash. Supporting her meant supporting them all — and she, in turn, spoke and acted on behalf of the collective grief and demands of those affected.
She stood alongside Alma Lata, mother of Claudia — another victim of the Tempe tragedy — during court proceedings in Larissa. She joined Panos Routsis, father of Dennis (also killed in Tempe), during his hunger strike in central Athens demanding the exhumation of victims’ remains. Her speeches at annual commemorations in Syntagma Square moved thousands.
She embraced Magda Fyssa, mother of Pavlos Fyssa — murdered in Keratsini — and gave a platform to Kyriaki Griva’s mother, whose daughter was killed in a femicide outside the Agioi Anargyroi police station.
Her mission remains clear: to represent this deeply wounded segment of Greek society — those whose lives were shattered by preventable tragedies — and ensure their voices are heard, respected, and heeded.