Journalist Makarios Drousiotis says he was questioned by Police Headquarters CID as part of a criminal investigation involving, among other matters, legislation governing the Cyprus Intelligence Service and the protection of personal data.
According to his account, the questioning focused on information published in his book Mafia State, the people who had seen it before publication and those involved in its production.
Questions about ‘Mafia State’
In a new social media post, Drousiotis said he was asked which individuals knew the contents of Mafia State before its publication and how he had obtained the information included in the book.
He was also questioned about the roles of the book’s editor and designer, as well as the covers of its two editions.
According to Drousiotis, investigators further asked whether he had received “any permission from a competent authority” to publish the book.
Drousiotis said he invoked his right to remain silent, while strongly criticising the manner in which the questioning was conducted.
Intelligence service legislation
The journalist claimed this was the first case known to him in which legislation governing the Cyprus Intelligence Service had been used in a criminal investigation involving a journalist.
He described the development as an unprecedented use of national security legislation against journalism and linked the investigation to the publication of Mafia State.
Timing of the complaint
Drousiotis also questioned the timing of the complaint, saying it was filed six days after the Anti-Corruption Authority issued an announcement concerning Mafia State.
He further claimed that this was the third criminal investigation against him within a month, adding that he believed a fourth could follow.
Allegations involving Anastasiades
In the same post, Drousiotis referred to a recent statement by former President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades, claiming that Anastasiades had criticised him over the contents of the book and the Anti-Corruption Authority’s decision not to seek his prosecution.
Drousiotis alleged that the former president was behind the criminal investigations and described them as an attempt to prosecute him over his journalistic work.
