26/10/22

CYPRUS: President, four ministers under the microscope of Independent Authority against Corruption.

As published on in-cyprus.philenews.com, Wednesday 26 October, 2022.

In a new development to the island’s naturalization scandal, President Nicos Anastasiades and four of his administration’s incumbent or former ministers are expected to come under the microscope of the Independent Authority against Corruption.

The four cabinet members are former justice minister Emily Yiolitis, deputy attorney general and former defense minister Savvas Angelides, former transport minister Marios Demetriades and incumbent labour minister Kyriacos Koushos.

This new development comes after a letter was recently sent to the Independent Authority by the Republic’s Audit Service.

Insiders said the letter specifically refers to the findings of the Audit Service as recorded in its latest report, dated August 22 2022, on the now-banned Cyprus Citizenship by Investment Scheme.

Attached to the letter is the Interior Ministry’s updated list of naturalization service providers up until July 31, 2021.

On this particular date, the last batch of naturalizations had taken place.

The government granted passports to more than 7,000 people under the citizenship scheme which was finally axed in late 2020 after a series of scandals related to the scheme came to light.

The EU had also criticised Cyprus and called for a halt to the programme.