The withdrawal of the domestic violence complaint against DISY MP Nikos Sykas by his partner is not an isolated case. In a recent letter to the House of Representatives, former justice minister Marios Hartsiotis revealed that the withdrawal of complaints in cases of domestic violence is a common occurrence, noting that police investigations often continue regardless.
“In several cases, when the victim does not wish the case to proceed to criminal prosecution, the police continue the investigation ex officio and, once the criminal file is completed, forward the case to the Legal Service for final instructions,” Hartsiotis wrote. “However, in many instances, victims unfortunately do not testify in court and formally request that no prosecution be pursued.”
As things stand, even if the Legal Service decides to proceed with criminal charges against Sykas on the basis of witness statements and medical certificates issued by his partner’s treating physicians, the likelihood of a conviction is considered limited without the testimony of the complainant herself, who is both the alleged victim and key witness.
Immunity hearing scheduled
On Monday at 11 a.m., the Supreme Court is set to hear the Attorney General’s application for the lifting of Sykas’ parliamentary immunity. He will be represented by legal counsel and, according to people close to him, is not expected to object to the lifting of his immunity.
For now, however, Sykas’ primary concern is not the criminal aspect of the case but the political fallout, which he sees as threatening to bring his political career to an abrupt end.
Set to be dropped from the ballot
On Monday evening, at 7.30 p.m., DISY’s Political Bureau will convene to decide whether to endorse the recommendation of the party’s Executive Bureau. The latter adopted the proposal of party leader Annita Demetriou to exclude Sykas from the party’s electoral list.
According to Politis sources, the prevailing view among senior party figures is that Sykas should not appear on the ballot while he remains under criminal investigation and is considered a suspect in a domestic violence case. Party officials were unequivocal: the DISY leadership will not provide political cover.
Can he remain an MP?
If the Political Bureau ratifies the decision to exclude Sykas from the ballot, the party’s leadership and collective bodies will face a further dilemma: should he continue to perform his duties as a member of parliament?
Opinions within the party diverge. One view, which appears to enjoy broader support, argues that Sykas should abstain from his parliamentary duties for two main reasons. First, the criminal investigation remains ongoing. Second, it would be politically inconsistent to bar him as a candidate in the upcoming parliamentary elections while allowing him to continue serving as an MP.
“If he is not fit to be a candidate and we exclude him from the ballot, how can he still be fit to serve as an MP?” a party official asked rhetorically.
The opposing view maintains that Sykas should continue his parliamentary duties, since the complaint against him has been withdrawn. By the same logic, some argue he should also remain a candidate in the upcoming elections.
Proposal for temporary abstention
According to information obtained by Politis, members of the DISY leadership support the idea that Sykas should refrain from parliamentary duties for as long as the criminal investigation is underway. Should the Attorney General decide to file criminal charges, the same abstention should continue.
It would not be the first time that domestic violence cases proceed to court despite the withdrawal of complaints. In several instances, cases have been prosecuted after initial withdrawals, with victims later testifying and perpetrators receiving prison sentences, both in district courts and criminal courts. There have also been cases in which victims testified under oath that they had no complaint about the abuse they had suffered.
Domestic violence in numbers
Physical, sexual and psychological abuse against women and children remains a daily reality in Cyprus. Official statistics submitted to parliament by former justice minister Marios Hartsiotis, in response to a question by DISY MP Nikos Georgiou, paint a stark picture.
From 2021, when district domestic violence units were established within CID departments, until April 2025, a total of 3,230 criminal cases of domestic violence involving women and children were recorded over a four-and-a-half-year period.
Specifically:
2021: 1,298 criminal cases, with 819 filed in court.
2022: 1,304 criminal cases, with 755 filed in court.
2023: 1,250 criminal cases, with 670 filed in court.
2024: 1,300 criminal cases, with 703 filed in court.
2025 (January 1 to April 30): 386 criminal cases, with 283 filed in court.
Between 2014 and 2024, Cyprus recorded 41 femicides.
Against this backdrop, the political and ethical questions facing DISY’s leadership go well beyond one individual case, touching on accountability, credibility and the limits of political tolerance in the face of domestic violence allegations.