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Rififi: The Panagiotis Vasillellis Case Revisited - The True Story (VID)

Published February 26, 2026, 09:12
Rififi: The Panagiotis Vasillellis Case Revisited - The True Story (VID)

The television series “Rififi” has brought back to the forefront the tragic story of Panagiotis Vasillellis, an infant who fought a battle against an aggressive cancer of the nervous system. Panagiotis lost his life despite the fact that the money for a life-saving operation in the United States had been raised. In 1999, when he was only 18 months old, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, leading his parents into a financial and emotional ordeal. His parents, construction workers, moved to Athens and began a months-long struggle to raise the 300,000 euros needed for the operation in the US. Through a public appeal, thousands of citizens responded, raising the desired amount. However, a few days before the trip, the bank blocked the account due to legal and bureaucratic issues concerning the way the money was raised. Despite protests and pressure, the disbursement of funds was critically delayed. When approval was finally given with special legislative arrangements, the child’s health had deteriorated irreparably. Panagiotis did not have time to travel for the operation. His mother, Georgia Pitsiladi, has been seeking justice for her child for years. This case remains a symbol of the conflict between social solidarity and the rigidity of bureaucracy, raising questions about whether the tragic outcome could have been avoided. The story of Panagiotis Vasillellis is a painful reminder of the power of human giving, but also of the obstacles that can sabotage it.