Akel MP Christos Christofides launched a scathing attack on the Independent Authority Against Corruption on Tuesday, accusing the watchdog of “significant and unjustifiable” delays in investigating complaints.
During the examination of the Authority’s budget at the House Financial Affairs Committee, Christofides raised concerns about how the officials of the body had handled two out of three allegations he had made regarding potential instances of conflict of interest and corruption. These allegations involved former President of the Republic, Nikos Anastasiades, and members of his Cabinet in relation to citizenship applications.
According to his recent testimony before the parliamentary committee, there had been a significant and unjustifiable delay in investigating the allegations he had submitted. He further stated that the inspection officers appointed by the Authority lacked the mandate to investigate the substance of the allegations, leaving him questioning why this had occurred.
Christofides focused on two of his three allegations, which are currently under investigation as a single case. He mentioned that the first allegation involved “significant financial contributions made to the then-governing party by naturalised citizens, actions that raise suspicions of bribery, extortion, or favouritism for the purpose of granting citizenship.”
The second allegation pertained to the “irregular issuance of passports to Russian bank owners, who were accused of corruption by the Russian government and who purchased a multi-million-euro property from a close relative of the former President of the Republic.” Both of these allegations are being examined as one case.
Initially, the Akel MP criticised the delay, noting that he had been informed by the Authority in February that the investigation would commence the following month, but it eventually began at the end of August. He pointed out specific consequences of this delay, including the passing away of an individual who had contributed funds to the then-governing party and subsequently acquired citizenship.
He also expressed his surprise at being asked to provide his own positions to the inspection officers appointed by the Authority at the end of the investigation, questioning why he, as the complainant, was called upon to participate in the conclusion of the investigation of his own allegations. He mentioned that he had learned about the near completion of the investigation from a report in Phileleftheros and was subsequently called upon to provide his perspective.
Transparency Commissioner and head of the Independent Authority Against Corruption, Haris Poyiadjis, addressed Christofides’ allegations during his subsequent remarks.
Poyiadjis explained that the reason for not including Christofides’ allegations related to citizenship grants in the terms of reference for the inspection officers was that the Cyprus Investment Programme fell under the jurisdiction of the Law Office of the Republic.
He clarified that since there were pending cases concerning the Cyprus Investment Programme before the Attorney General and hundreds of police investigations, the Authority had distanced itself from the matter. He added that the terms of reference for the inspection officers investigating Christofides’ allegations had been limited to two aspects.
Christofides took the floor again in response, asking, “What will they investigate then?” and addressing Poyiadjis with due respect, he said, “All of my allegations concern the granting of passports…” He further explained that one of his two allegations currently under investigation related to “financial contributions made by naturalised citizens to Disy (the governing party at the time), shortly after obtaining their citizenship.”
Transparency Commissioner Poyiadjis reassured that any member of the Cabinet would be thoroughly investigated as part of the broader examination of all naturalisations. “We will investigate any member of the Council of Ministers. We assure you. You will see results very soon,” he concluded.
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