Makarios Drousiotis has announced that a crowdfunding campaign launched to help cover his legal costs has raised a total of €52,874.63, according to a post he published on X.
Breakdown of funds raised
According to Drousiotis, the campaign reached €50,000 within 36 hours of launching. After deducting fees charged by GoGetFunding and PayPal, he said the net amount stood at €46,586.49, held in a separate PayPal account containing no personal funds of his own.
He said additional contributions from citizens unable to use the crowdfunding platform were deposited into two of his personal accounts. To ensure what he described as full transparency and separation from his personal finances, he said he consolidated these contributions into a Revolut account used exclusively for the campaign, which currently holds €3,188.14. A further €3,100 given to him in cash by supporters unable or unwilling to use another payment method will also be added to this account, he said.
Combining these amounts, Drousiotis said a total of €52,874.63 has been raised.
Συνολική αποτίμηση crowdfunding €52.874,63
— MAKARIOS DROUSIOTIS (@makdrou) August 16, 2026
Όπως έχω υποσχεθεί ανακοινώνω τα αποτελέσματα του crowdfunding:
Μέσα σε μόλις 36 ώρες, η εκστρατεία συγκέντρωσε το ποσό των €50.000. Μετά την αφαίρεση των προμηθειών και των λοιπών χρεώσεων της GoGetFunding και της PayPal, το καθαρό… pic.twitter.com/Yw00MHbSm9
Stated use of funds and oversight
Drousiotis said the money would be used exclusively for the purpose for which it was donated, and that all accounts, receipts and payments would be reviewed by an approved auditing firm, with the resulting report made public.
Drousiotis launched the appeal for public financial support on 10 August 2026, saying he faced substantial legal costs arising from court proceedings connected to his journalistic work. He has framed the campaign as concerning the broader right of journalists to investigate those in power without facing financial ruin or imprisonment as a consequence.
