19/02/2026
It Has Been A Rough Couple Of Days
No matter how prepared you think you are — even when you can see something coming miles away — nothing truly prepares you for the mental and physical strain of being under attack. It’s only when you stand in the middle of it, feeling the full weight on your shoulders, that you realize this is not something you can carry alone.
For the last six years, Greek authorities have tried to silence me. Years of smear campaigns in parts of the Greek press, spyware, arrests and harassment of people who stood by my side, isolating tactics, numerous baseless criminal investigations, an arrest warrant — and now a European Arrest Warrant — all with one purpose: to silence the voice of one man who insists on telling the truth.
It sounds insane — and it is. Being targeted by a single person can be overwhelming enough. But this is not one person. It is a government, with vast resources, little accountability, and the power to act without consequence. That reality can feel impossible to stand against.
The general idea behind pressure like this is simple: everyone breaks eventually. And if you don’t break, they try to wear you down, inch by inch, until nothing remains.
A wise man once told me: “If they are using all these resources trying to silence you, you must be doing something right.”
I believe there is truth in those words.
Only dead fish swim downstream. Standing against the current is exhausting — but it is also necessary when the current is wrong.
I must admit: if I had been standing alone, I would have been gone a long time ago. But I am not alone — and this is where they have completely misjudged the situation.
Although Aegean Boat Report is run by one person, I am surrounded by people and organizations across Europe who stand beside me. For that support, I am eternally grateful.
The time ahead will likely bring many challenges. I am prepared to stand in this for as long as necessary — but I will need support: physical, mental, and financial. I hope the community is willing to step up in solidarity.
Many people before us have faced judicial harassment in Greece for helping refugees. In the end, they were acquitted — but not without tremendous personal sacrifice. Standing on the right side of history often comes at a price.
Some ask, “Why do you do this? Is it really worth it?”
The answer is simple: because it is the right thing to do. We take this fight so those who come after us — perhaps without the same resources — won’t have to.
Many people have asked in recent days how they can help. First: share. Social media visibility matters when enough people speak up. Stand against injustice wherever you encounter it — on the train, at work, at school, in the street, or in the comment sections online. Show that this is not ok — it’s not who we are and not what we stand for.
Financial support is also critical — for us and for many organizations working in this field. Find a cause that aligns with your values and support it. You may think €10 a month makes no difference — but it does, especially when many people do the same.
If you want to support Aegean Boat Report, we would be eternally grateful. General support information can be found on aegeanboatreport.com.
You can also support by visit our fundraiser on whydonate: https://whydonate.com/fundraising/the-only-eyes-on-the-aegean-sea-and-theyre-about-to-go-dark
Or through PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=LDJ3F7A6UJW8W
If Aegean Boat Report disappears, it won’t be because the need disappeared. It will be because pressure and lack of support made it impossible to continue.
The work continues — but it cannot continue without you.
This is my humble way of calling for help, now it’s up to you to pick up.
