Journalist Makarios Drousiotis raises funds for legal costs amidst state scrutiny

Journalist and author Makarios Drousiotis announced on August 16, 2026, that his crowdfunding campaign successfully raised a total of €52,874.63 within 36 hours. The funds were collected through the GoGetFunding platform, direct bank transfers, and cash donations to support his ongoing legal defense costs. After accounting for platform and payment processing fees, the net amount is €46,586.49, held in a dedicated PayPal account, while an additional €3,188.14 is maintained in a separate Revolut account, with another €3,100 in cash pending deposit. Drousiotis has pledged that all transactions will be audited by an independent firm and the results will be made public.

The campaign has triggered legal debate regarding the regulation of fundraising. Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou requested an investigation into whether the effort violates the law on public collections. While legal experts, including Maria Theristi and Simos Angelides, suggest the activity may not fall under the existing legislation governing public appeals, the police have referred the matter to the Legal Service for an official opinion. The authorities are currently awaiting a legal directive to determine if any offenses occurred, while separate investigations regarding Drousiotis’s work, including his book 'Kratos Mafia', remain ongoing.