Crowdfunding campaign for journalist Makarios Drousiotis raises over 52,000 euros

Journalist and author Makarios Drousiotis announced on August 16, 2026, that a crowdfunding campaign to support his legal expenses successfully raised a total of €52,874.63 within 36 hours. After deducting platform and payment processing fees, the net amount reached €46,586.49, which is held in a dedicated PayPal account. Additional contributions totaling €3,188.14 collected via other channels have been consolidated into a separate Revolut account, with another €3,100 in cash donations pending deposit. Drousiotis has committed to full transparency, stating that all financial records and expenditures will be audited by an independent firm and the results will be made public.

The campaign follows a public inquiry initiated by the Minister of Interior, who requested that police examine whether the fundraising activity violates legislation governing public collections. Drousiotis’s legal counsel, Maria Theristi, argued that the campaign likely would not have qualified for a license under current laws, as the funds are intended for personal legal defense rather than social causes. The police confirmed they have not yet received formal instructions from the Ministry to initiate a criminal investigation but remain aware of the situation and will take necessary actions once notified.