The Legal Service in Cyprus has officially lodged an appeal against the recent acquittal of former House President Dimitris Syllouris and ex-MP Christakis Giovani by the Criminal Court of Nicosia, relating to the much-publicized ‘Golden Passport’ controversy.
This development marks a significant turn in a saga that has cast a long shadow over Cyprus’ citizenship-by-investment programme, which, until its termination, played an influential role in shaping the island’s luxury property market.
The Legal Service challenges the 170-page majority ruling, citing judicial errors identified in the Criminal Court’s decision. According to Polina Efthivoulou, Head of Communications for the Legal Service, the appeal will primarily target legal and evidentiary matters from the first trial.
Among the legal points under scrutiny are:
Senior State Attorneys Andreas Aristides and Christiana Kytheraiotou are responsible for crafting the Prosecution’s case as it moves to the Court of Appeal, where these issues will be re-evaluated. Meanwhile, those acquitted maintain their right to contest the appeal.
A notable feature of the first judgment was its split nature. Senior District Judge Maria Loizou dissented, believing the defendants should have been convicted on the charge of influence peddling—the third and one of the principal accusations.
The panel consisted of President Nikolaos Georgiades and Senior District Judges Maria Loizou and Nagia Oikonomou.
Addressing questions about the Al Jazeera investigative footage linked to the case, the Legal Service clarified that while raw video evidence was available to investigators, stringent legal standards prevent the automatic acceptance of such material in court. Evidence must be obtained lawfully and meet admissibility criteria.
Consequently, authorities opted to call participants from the recorded conversations as witnesses rather than submit the videos themselves as formal evidence.
This footage was a follow-up to an earlier Al Jazeera investigation that exposed questionable citizenship grants to certain individuals under the scheme.
The appeal reignites public and institutional interest in Cyprus’ now-terminated Golden Passport program. This investment-driven citizenship scheme attracted substantial foreign capital, much of it funnelled into the island’s high-end real estate sector before EU pressure led to its irreversible cancellation, including infringement proceedings against Cyprus (read more here).
For prospective buyers exploring different market options now, areas like Limassol and Paphos remain popular investment destinations.
Back in August 2020, an official investigation led by former Supreme Court Judge Myron Nikolatos revealed concerning findings: over 51% of examined cases involved unlawful citizenship grants or deficiencies in the process.
Despite these stark revelations and ongoing probes, the judicial system has yet to convict any individuals of criminal wrongdoing connected to this scandal.
For those interested in market opportunities less impacted by ongoing controversies, INDEX.cy features an extensive selection of affordable apartments in Cyprus and other auction properties across the island.
The coming months will be critical in determining how Cyprus navigates the legal and political aftershocks of the Golden Passport episode, as well as the future shape of its property market and international reputation.
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