The former mayor of Kalymnos, Dimitris Diakomichalis, was acquitted by the Single-Member Court of Appeal for Felonies in Rhodes on April 29, 2026. He had been charged with negligence related to a landfill fire that broke out on July 25, 2022, allegedly causing environmental pollution.
During the trial, both his defense lawyer and his own testimony highlighted actions taken by his municipal administration between 2011 and 2014, including the decision to expropriate land for the creation of a sanitary landfill (HYTA). This decision had previously been deemed lawful and appropriate by an Appeals Council ruling.
The defense also emphasized initiatives during his later term (2019–2023), particularly the implementation of an interim waste management solution involving a baling system, agreed upon in cooperation with the regional authority, aiming to cease landfill operations.
The acquittal concludes a long legal process. However, the relevant press release notes dated 2-5-2026 that issues related to waste management on the island persist, raising criticism toward the current municipal administration.
