Cyprus’s Independent Authority against Corruption is expected to publish the findings of its two-year investigation into allegations contained in researcher and author Makarios Drousiotis’s book “Mafia State” on Tuesday, June 17, according to information available to Phileleftheros.
The report, which Drousiotis’s book directed at former President Nicos Anastasiades, centres on alleged events following the divorce proceedings of a Russian oligarch.
Drousiotis implicated a major law firm in the affair, making allegations about its relationship with Anastasiades as he then was. The book also makes allegations about purported irregular parliamentary activity to amend legislation, court rulings said to have benefited the oligarch, and capital transfers.
Anastasiades has categorically denied the allegations against him in public written statements and interviews. He has taken legal action against the author and published a book titled “The Slanderer” in an effort to rebut Drousiotis’s claims.
The investigation’s findings are expected to be accompanied by supporting documentation based on testimony from individuals and documents, in line with the approach taken in other investigations involving officials, according to Phileleftheros.
The research team delivered its final report at the end of April. It runs to 3,000 pages. According to publicly released figures, 214 sessions were held to take testimony or evidence, 150 individuals gave evidence — among them well-known former officials — and 793 exhibits were submitted by 41 legal entities and government departments.
The investigation focused on corroborating or refuting the positions set out in Drousiotis’s book, which formed the basis of the testimony gathered across more than 200 hearings conducted by the inspection officers.
According to Phileleftheros’s calculations, published previously, the head of the investigating team, Gabrielle Louise McIntyre, is set to receive €170,000 for the hearings and sessions alone, based on an agreed rate of €800 per working day.
McIntyre worked considerably more working days beyond those sessions, and the remuneration of the other three inspection officers — Charilaos Chrysanthou, Orestis Nikitas and Andreas Efthymiou — must also be factored in.
Phileleftheros has reported that the total cost of the investigation exceeds €1 million, with earlier information suggesting it had reached €1.3 million.
The investigation was announced by the Anti-Corruption Authority in early 2023 and began in spring 2024, after suitable investigators meeting the required criteria were identified.
It was preceded by a letter to the authority from Andreas Mavroyiannis, who was then a presidential candidate.