Disy’s Limassol branch has publicly defended the presumption of innocence for MP Nikos Sykas, who was recently removed from the election ballot due to allegations of domestic violence.
- Disy’s Limassol branch has publicly defended the presumption of innocence for MP Nikos Sykas, who was recently removed from the election ballot due to allegations of domestic violence.
- Party leader and House president Annita Demetriou commented that "violence of any kind is incompatible" with the party's values, supporting the decision to exclude Sykas as a matter of principle.
In a statement released on Thursday, the branch expressed its unequivocal condemnation of violence, stating, “We condemn violence without exceptions.” However, they emphasised that judgement should rest solely with the justice system, warning against the influence of the so-called “court of public opinion.”
The political implications of Sykas’ exclusion are significant, yet the Limassol branch cautioned against the actions of “organised groups and individuals” who might attempt to manipulate the situation to damage the party’s reputation.
“Respecting the principle that every person is innocent until proven guilty, we refuse to participate in any attempt to undermine his dignity and that of his family,” the statement affirmed, while acknowledging Sykas’ contributions to the local community.
As Sykas considers appealing his removal from the ballot in the supreme court, his lawyer, Christos Pourgourides, has argued that the decision violated fundamental principles of justice. Pourgourides stated that the ruling was made without hearing Sykas’ side and amounted to a political misuse of the court’s decision to lift his parliamentary immunity.
Despite these developments, Disy’s leadership has reiterated its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy regarding violence against women, maintaining that their decision was not a reflection of guilt but rather a principled stance.
Party leader and House president Annita Demetriou commented that “violence of any kind is incompatible” with the party’s values, supporting the decision to exclude Sykas as a matter of principle.
The allegations against Sykas originated from an incident involving his partner during the New Year period in Greece. Although the complaint was later withdrawn, the Supreme Court unanimously lifted Sykas’ parliamentary immunity, permitting ongoing police investigations. Authorities have clarified that the withdrawal of the complaint does not automatically halt criminal proceedings.
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