The trial of suspended Paphos mayor Phedonas Phedonos begins today before the Permanent Criminal Court in Paphos and will be conducted entirely behind closed doors following a court ruling.
The decision was announced at the previous hearing by Criminal Court President Lia Markou, who outlined the court's reasoning and also ordered a ban on the publication of any records from the proceedings.
The defendant has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The hearing has been scheduled to run from 27 to 31 July 2026.
Markou recalled that during proceedings on 24 June, when the defendant was called upon to answer the charges, the complainant's name was not disclosed publicly, even though it appears in the particulars of the indictment.
The court found that, given the nature of the alleged offences and the references contained in the case file, there was a real risk of violating the complainant's privacy, as well as influencing her testimony through fear, anxiety and potential social stigmatisation.
In explaining the decision, the court president also referred to case law from the European Court of Human Rights involving a rape case in which proceedings were conducted behind closed doors to protect the complainant's private life, despite personal details already having become public.
She said that regardless of whether the complainant's allegations are ultimately found to be true, she must be able to testify before the court without fear or pressure.
Responding to the defence argument that a significant period of time had passed since the alleged offences, the judge said the risk of stigmatisation would still exist if the hearing were held in public.
Addressing the argument that the complainant is an adult, Markou stressed that adult women alleging rape or sexual abuse are also in a particularly vulnerable position and that adulthood does not preclude a closed hearing when specific protective grounds exist.
She further stated that the defendant's rights are fully safeguarded and are not affected by the absence of the public from the proceedings.
The court also rejected the possibility of holding only part of the trial behind closed doors during the complainant's testimony, noting that sensitive personal information could emerge through other witnesses as well.
The court concluded that a public hearing could result in a violation of the complainant's privacy and ruled that the entire trial should be conducted in private.
Phaedonos faces five charges:
- Rape.
- Indecent assault against a woman.
- Indecent assault against a woman through another act.
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
- Administering a drug or other substance capable of stupefying or weakening a person's power of resistance.
He has denied all charges.
The case will be heard over five consecutive court sessions, from 27 to 31 July, with proceedings scheduled to begin daily at 9am.
