Dimitris Giannakopoulos faces investigation following social media outburst against police

On November 15, 2026, Panathinaikos BC owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos posted a series of videos on social media, using aggressive language and insults directed at individuals he believes targeted his daughter, Despina. The incident stemmed from a police stop that occurred in the early hours of Sunday in the Kolonaki district of Athens. According to police reports, officers from the Extortion Division stopped a corporate vehicle with tinted windows containing two men and one woman. During the standard identity and security check, officers verified that one of the male passengers possessed a weapon for which he held a valid firearms permit.

Following the publication of these videos, Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrisochoidis ordered the immediate referral of the material to the public prosecutor, citing abusive expressions and disparaging characterizations that undermine the prestige of the Hellenic Police. Giannakopoulos alleged the check was part of a targeted harassment campaign against him and his security personnel, rather than a routine procedure. Legal proceedings are now underway as the case has been officially handed over to the judicial authorities for review.