After roughly two and a half years of work, the Independent Authority Against Corruption has released its findings on allegations made in Makarios Drousiotis's book Mafia State, centring on former President Nicos Anastasiades.
The long-awaited findings from Cyprus' Independent Authority Against Corruption on allegations detailed in Makarios Drousiotis' book Mafia State have now been made public, concluding an investigation that stretched across approximately two and a half years. The inquiry examined claims that, if upheld, would implicate a former president and a number of senior state officials in potential corruption offences.
The Authority's announcement names the following individuals and entities for investigation into possible corruption offences:
- former President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades;
- the law office of Nicos Chr. Anastasiades;
- Stathis Lemis and Fanos Filippou, lawyers at the law office Nicos Chr. Anastasiades;
- Rikkos Erotokritou, former assistant to the Attorney-General;
- Haris Solomonidis, a judge;
- the law office of Neocleous and Co. and its lawyer Panagiotis Neocleous;
- Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev;
- Andreas Hatzikyriakos;
- Efthimios Bouloutas, managing director of Laiki Bank;
- Nikos Kougialis, former agriculture minister;
- Giorgos Varnava, former MP;
- Eva Rossidou Papakyriakov, former head of MOKAS (the anti-money-laundering unit);
- and Ioannis Sotiriades, a senior police officer.
The announcement marks the culmination of one of the most extensive corruption investigations Cyprus has undertaken. Should the Authority's findings point to criminal offences, they will be forwarded to the attorney-general for decision on prosecution.
The report has been released in greek, you may read it here
Seven Counts Against Anastasiades: The full breakdown of corruption charges
The Independent Authority Against Corruption has detailed specific criminal offences under investigation for each of the 15 individuals and entities named in its findings.
Former President Nicos Anastasiades faces the most extensive list: seven counts across three categories. These include three instances of trading in influence, one felony count of abuse of authority, and three further counts of abuse of authority or attempted offences. The law office of Nicos Chr. Anastasiades and two of its partners, Stathis Lemis and Fanos Filippou, each face counts of trading in influence and money laundering.
Judge Haris Solomonidis is accused of bribery of a public official, suspicious transactions indicating corruption, and illicit acquisition of property benefit. The law office A. Neocleous & Co. faces similar charges, including active bribery. Lawyer Panagiotis Neocleous is named for conspiracy to obstruct justice.
Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev is under investigation for trading in influence. Efthimios Bouloutas, former managing director of Laiki Bank, faces charges of trading in influence and money laundering. Rikkos Erotokritos, former assistant attorney-general, is accused of two counts of abuse of authority.
Former agriculture minister Nikos Kougialis, former MP Giorgos Varnava, and former MOKAS head Eva Rossidou Papakyriakou each face single counts of abuse of authority. Papakyriakou faces an additional count of neglect of duty. Journalist and communications consultant Andreas Hadjikyriakos is accused of trading in influence. Former police officer Ioannis Sotiriades faces a single charge of abuse of authority.
