The Council of Ministers has yet to appoint independent criminal investigators into the Mafia State corruption case, as the Presidential Palace works through the challenge of finding candidates with no conflict of interest in a probe that targets former President Nikos Anastasiades and a series of senior legal figures.
The background
The case stems from Mafia State, a 2022 book by investigative journalist Makarios Drousiotis — a former Anastasiades aide — alleging systemic corruption within the state. The Independent Authority Against Corruption conducted a two-year investigation into those allegations, interviewing key witnesses including Drousiotis and Anastasiades himself, who testified for many hours spanning more than one day.
The authority’s confidential final report runs to more than 3,000 pages and refers possible criminal charges to prosecutors across seven suspected offences connected to Anastasiades, including at least one felony — allegations of trading influence, abuse of power, and attempts to stymie an anti-money laundering probe involving his former law firm. The authority cautioned that every person mentioned carried a presumption of innocence and that only a court of law could determine guilt.
Attorney General George Savvides and Deputy Attorney General Savvas Angelides subsequently recused themselves from the case, following intense public pressure. Both were appointed by Anastasiades and served as ministers in his administration. The Law Office then forwarded the findings directly to the police and the Cabinet, bypassing the top prosecutors, citing the need to preserve the objectivity of the investigation.
Anastasiades has vehemently denied all allegations, calling them false, defamatory, and politically motivated. He filed defamation lawsuits against Drousiotis in 2024 and authored his own book The Slanderer, to rebut the claims. He has also demanded the immediate appointment of an independent criminal investigator, saying he wants the case heard before a proper court.
The challenge of finding investigators
The Anti-Corruption Authority’s report recommends criminal investigation against 15 natural and legal persons, including former judge Charis Solomonides, former Law Office officials Rikkos Erotokritou and Eva Rossidou Papakyriakou, lawyer and law firm Panayiotis Neocleous, and former President Anastasiades — the latter in connection with his appointment of Supreme Court members.
The breadth of those named creates an acute problem for the search. Many otherwise qualified candidates — former judges or experienced criminal lawyers — risk conflict of interest complications given the identity of those under investigation. Phileleftheros reported yesterday that a named foreign legal expert was under strong consideration for the lead role. One scenario under consideration would see a foreign appointee flanked by local professionals familiar with the specificities of the Cypriot criminal justice system.
What the government said
Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis confirmed that more than one investigator would be appointed. Asked whether the Council of Ministers had discussed the appointment of independent criminal investigators in connection with the Anti-Corruption Authority’s report, he said:
“The matter has been discussed in the Council of Ministers. An exchange of views has taken place. What was decided, following the intention announced last week, is the intention to appoint a team of criminal investigators — more than one person — as soon as possible, with the selection of the appropriate individuals. You will appreciate that the full report was delivered yesterday. Decisions will be taken as soon as possible and will of course be announced by the Council of Ministers.”
On the possibility of appointing a foreign criminal investigator, Letymbiotis did not rule it out. “We are excluding nothing,” he said.
On the delay, he said the candidates must meet a high bar: “The individuals who will make up this team of independent criminal investigators must be selected after thorough examination of their qualifications, competence, and the absence of any potential conflict of interest. You will therefore appreciate that this must be done after serious study, and once that study is complete, the priority is of course to make the appointments as soon as possible.”
Police standing by
The police, who received the report from the Law Office two days ago, will take no action until the Council of Ministers makes its appointments.
Police Chief Themistos Arnaoutis, speaking at yesterday’s presentation of the Drug Law Enforcement Unit’s results for the first half of 2026, was direct: “Given the Council of Ministers’ stated intention to appoint criminal investigators, you will appreciate that we are here and waiting to assist with whatever is needed. We are on standby.”
He said a parallel police investigation was not possible, and that the next step rested entirely with the Council of Ministers. “We are holding it and waiting for instructions on the procedure to be followed,” he said, adding that “the contribution of the police will certainly be very significant.”
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