In August 2025, journalist Thanasis Koukakis was targeted by anonymous online articles (including on bankingnews.gr and iefimerida.gr) while he and reporter Eliza Triantafyllou were preparing an investigation for inside story concerning the banking sector, and specifically the planned acquisition of HSBC Malta by the Greek CrediaBank.
The publications in question, which are not reproduced here to protect the journalists, referred, among other things, to Mr. Koukakis’ family and claimed that the reporters’ questions (which were in fact legitimate and required by journalistic ethics) prior to publication had triggered a “Maniatic vendetta,” a phrase implying potential retaliatory or threatening responses to journalistic work.
The attack prompted reactions from journalists’ unions and reporters.
On 25 August, the Athens Daily Newspaper Journalists’ Union (ESIEA) issued a statement describing the attack as “inconceivable” and expressing serious concern about publications, especially anonymous ones, that target journalists simply for doing their job, that is, for asking questions. The Union stressed that journalistic ethics require that individuals whose activities are the subject of reporting be given the opportunity to respond.
The Panhellenic Federation of Journalists’ Unions (POESY) – representing all five journalists’ unions in Greece (ESIEA, ESIEM‑TH, ESIEPIN, ESIEThStE, ESPIT) – publicly supported ESIEA’s statement.
Journalist Giannis Pantelakis commented that the incident concerns not only the two journalists involved, nor only journalism more broadly, but also the very quality of democracy.
Similarly, Xenia Kounalaki of Kathimerini described the attack as “a foul, mafia‑style war with coordinated unsigned publications alleging hidden interests, dragging in in‑laws, and issuing threats.”
The investigative outlet Reporters United also issued a statement: “The entire Reporters United team stands with colleagues Thanasis Koukakis and Eliza Triantafyllou in the face of the attacks they received from media outlets after submitting questions as part of their reporting for inside story on the banking sector and specifically CrediaBank. Always against any targeting of journalists.”
Under the rule of law, where individual rights, including freedom of the press, are protected, journalists must be able to carry out their work freely and independently, without censorship and without disproportionate or unjustified restrictions. Their role is to inform the public comprehensively on matters of significant public interest.
Although press freedom is guaranteed under Article 14(2) of the Greek Constitution, in this case reporter Thanasis Koukakis was attacked precisely because he adhered to ethical standards while performing his journalistic duties. Such targeting undermines press freedom and discourages investigative reporting.
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