Cyprus’s independent police complaints authority held an emergency session on Holy Thursday and wrote to the Attorney General seeking approval to appoint a criminal investigator to examine complaints filed by Ioanna Fotiou, also known as Annie Alexui, against seven police officers, according to philenews.
The move followed Justice Minister Costas Fytiris forwarding Fotiou’s electronic complaints to the Independent Authority for the Investigation of Allegations and Complaints against the Police (IAIACAP) on Holy Wednesday. Fytiris had previously promised to act on the complaints without delay.
The authority received the complaints a few days ago. In its letter to the Attorney General, it sought approval to appoint a criminal investigator to examine them. A criminal investigator is expected to be appointed unless the Attorney General decides to appoint one himself.
In a recent post, Fotiou said she had completed the first part of her complaints through the official channel Fytiris directed her to, using an email address provided to her.
She said she sent seven separate complaints concerning seven different officers — both to that address and to Fytiris’s personal email — and noted that this covers only the first part of her reports, which do not involve all the officers she intends to name.
It is not known whether the complaints concern members of the Paphos Police Directorate or other officers, nor what the complaints relate to.
Fotiou, 43, is a social media personality who uses the alias Annie Alexui and is currently based in Russia, where she has been granted asylum.
She has repeatedly published videos online alleging corruption, misconduct and organised crime links involving politicians and police officers.
Thirteen arrest warrants have been issued against her in connection with alleged offences including harassment, dissemination of false information and violations of personal data laws, following complaints by MPs, police officers and members of the public.