Corruption Authority Report: Anastasiades and 14 others in focus over "Mafia State"
Cyprus's corruption authority has released a report implicating former President Nicos Anastasiades and 14 other individuals in potential criminal offences.
Damning report from corruption authority against 15 prominent figures in Cyprus
Cyprus's Corruption Authority published its investigation findings on Tuesday, naming 15 prominent individuals — including former President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades. According to Efimerida ton Syntakton, the investigation was initiated following the book "Mafia State" by journalist Makarios Drousiotis, published in 2022.
The report is the result of 2.5 years of investigations, 214 sessions and hearings, 150 witnesses, and 793 pieces of evidence from 41 legal entities and government departments.
Which names are mentioned
Beyond Anastasiades, the report refers to former minister Nicos Kouyialli, former MP Giorgos Varnava, and Russian oligarch Dmitri Rybolovlev. The Authority attributes indicators of a series of potential criminal offences: trafficking in influence, abuse of power, bribery, and money laundering from illegal activities.
The Authority clarified that "the findings do not constitute criminal convictions and all implicated individuals continue to be entitled to the presumption of innocence". No prosecutions have been brought, at least so far.
Seven potential offences for Anastasiades
The report is particularly damaging for the former President, as seven instances of potential criminal offences are recorded. The findings are linked to different cases: the Focus Maritime case, financing towards the Democratic Rally which he led, issues concerning banking fees and mediation, as well as cases involving naturalisation of foreign investors.
Specifically regarding the Focus Maritime case, the Authority refers to testimony according to which the former President intervened or communicated with the Law Office while the case was under investigation. The inspecting officers determined that such intervention could constitute improper exercise of executive pressure on a constitutionally independent service.
Trafficking in influence, as a concept, concerns cases in which someone appears to use real or apparent influence over a public official or state process, in exchange for improper advantage. The Authority refers to the Council of Europe Convention on the Criminalisation of Corruption, which the Republic of Cyprus has ratified.
Anastasiades's response
Nicos Anastasiades responded immediately upon receiving the report. In a written statement, he argued that the report refutes Drousiotis's claims "regarding enrichment and corruption", which he characterised as "baseless". At the same time, he categorically denied all attributed offences.
The former President emphasised that many of the charges attributed by the Authority were not included in the claims made in Drousiotis's book and were never put to him during the investigation, "so that I could be given the opportunity to submit substantiated and proper responses". He announced that he would hold a press conference in the coming days with detailed answers.
He also requested the recusal of the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General from oversight of the investigations, "to remove any suspicion".
How the investigation began
The Corruption Authority took up its duties on 8 July 2022. In November of the same year, amid the presidential election campaign, independent candidate Andreas Mavrogiannis sent a letter to the Authority requesting a self-initiated investigation into the book's contents. Subsequently, Anastasiades himself submitted a corresponding request by letter on 29 November 2022.
The Authority decided to conduct a self-initiated investigation on the basis of applicable legislation. Its members read the book, identified the claims falling within its remit, and held repeated meetings with author Drousiotis for clarification. Regulations for the procedure of examining complaints were established in December 2022.
Source: Efimerida ton Syntakton