Legal Service Appeals Acquittals in Cyprus’ ‘Golden Passport’ Scandal

The Legal Service has formally submitted an appeal against the acquittal verdict of former House President Dimitris Syllouris and ex-MP Christakis Giovani, handed down by the Criminal Court of Nicosia in the high-profile ‘Golden Passport’ case.

This development marks the beginning of a renewed judicial phase into the ongoing controversy surrounding Cyprus’ citizenship-by-investment programme — a scheme that once played a significant role in attracting foreign investment to the island’s luxury property market, before being permanently halted amid mounting international scrutiny and legal challenges.

Grounds for Appeal

The Legal Service contends that the 170-page majority decision contains legal lapses and misinterpretations warranting reconsideration by the Court of Appeal. Speaking at a recent press conference, Polina Efthivoulou, Head of the Legal Service’s Communications Team, clarified that the appeal targets specific evidentiary and legal questions raised during the trial.

Among the highlighted issues are the courtroom’s handling of witnesses who were not called to testify and key interpretative questions related to the court’s legal rationale.

Senior State Attorneys Andreas Aristides and Christiana Kytheraiotou were present to underscore the Legal Service’s position that, while judicial rulings are fully respected, constitutional and criminal procedural laws provide mechanisms for appeal when legal errors are identified.

Split Decision and Judicial Disagreement

The Criminal Court’s ruling was notably split, with Senior District Judge Maria Loizou dissenting by voting that the two defendants should have been found guilty concerning the influence peddling charge. The bench included President Nikolaos Georgiades and Senior District Judges Maria Loizou and Nagia Oikonomou.

Why the Al Jazeera Footage Was Excluded

Questions arose about why the widely circulated Al Jazeera footage, which initially exposed the scandal’s dubious citizenship approvals, was not directly submitted as evidence. Efthivoulou explained that while the unedited footage was reviewed by investigators, admissible courtroom evidence must meet strict legal criteria—particularly concerning how evidence was obtained. Conversations recorded and broadcast were therefore used indirectly, with involved individuals being called as witnesses rather than presenting the audiovisual material itself.

The Al Jazeera exposé originally followed an earlier interactive report outlining questionable citizenship grants under the scheme.

Moving Forward: The Appeal Process

With the Legal Service filing an appeal, the case now moves to the Court of Appeal, where the prosecution’s legal arguments will receive renewed evaluation. The saga continues to receive intense political and institutional attention given the broader consequences on Cyprus’ now-defunct Citizenship-by-Investment programme.

This scheme once underpinned substantial foreign capital influx into Cyprus’ property sector, affecting markets including houses for sale and auction properties, before being shut down due to EU infringement proceedings and reputational damage.

The Official Inquiry and Lingering Questions

In August 2020, a government-appointed inquiry led by former Supreme Court Judge Myron Nikolatos produced a scathing report revealing that unlawful citizenships were granted in over 51% of the cases examined. Multiple investigations since have failed to hold any individuals criminally responsible for corruption and abuses within the scheme.

The absence of decisive accountability raises ongoing concerns about governance, transparency, and the long-term impact on Cyprus’ real estate and investment environment.

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