golden passports — The corruption trial involving Demetris Syllouris and Christakis Giovanis has shed light on the role of former President Nicos Anastasiades in the controversial golden passports scheme. A secretary who managed correspondence for Anastasiades will testify as a defence witness, further intertwining the former president’s legacy with the allegations at hand.
The pivotal letter, which granted Syllouris, a former House Speaker, and others authority to attract foreign investments to Cyprus, was sent in the wake of the 2013 economic crisis. Defence lawyer Christos Triantafyllides plans to call this secretary, along with another witness, to affirm the legitimacy of their actions as aimed at rejuvenating the Cypriot economy.
At the core of the trial are serious allegations against Syllouris and Giovanis, including conspiracy to subvert the Republic and influencing a public official. These charges emerged after an Al Jazeera documentary aired in October 2020, which exposed how the citizenship investment programme was allegedly exploited for personal gain. Following the exposé, both defendants resigned from their official positions.
The undercover investigation revealed that Syllouris and Giovanis offered assistance to a fictitious Chinese businessman, promising him a streamlined process to acquire Cypriot citizenship in exchange for a substantial investment of at least €2.15 million. Syllouris’s assurances included claims that the applicant had a “99 percent” chance of success, raising eyebrows about the integrity of the programme.
Evidence presented by the prosecution includes allegations that Syllouris received €200,000 for services rendered to Giovanis’s property company, with additional payments involving his daughter. This raised further questions regarding the extent of their financial dealings and possible conflicts of interest.
Compounding these issues is the revelation that a law firm founded by Anastasiades, now operated by his daughters, processed numerous golden passport applications during his presidency. Critics have pointed out a clear conflict of interest, particularly given that 137 individuals were granted citizenship through this law firm while Anastasiades was in office.
The Nicolatos inquiry committee reported that 53 percent of the 6,779 citizenships granted under the scheme between 2007 and August 2020 were unlawful. The committee’s findings suggested that while politicians bore political responsibilities, certain individuals involved in the application process may face criminal charges.
As the trial progresses, Triantafyllides has requested a postponement, citing scheduling conflicts for the two witnesses. Giovanis’s defence counsel is also prepared to present witnesses, including family members, to support their case.
The three-member judicial panel agreed to delay proceedings until Thursday to ensure all relevant witnesses could attend. The fallout from the Al Jazeera revelations has led to the termination of the Cyprus Investment Programme and prompted legal action from the European Union, highlighting concerns about the programme’s integrity and the individuals it attracted.