Nicosia Criminal Court has heard a case related to the revelation of the “golden passport” program. The scandal was widely publicized following an Al Jazeera investigation and involved high-profile figures, including former parliamentary speaker Demetris Sylloulis, former AKEL MP Christakis Giovani and Giovani’s company director Antonis Antoniou.
All three defendants attended the hearing with their lawyers. The prosecution and defense discussed key aspects of the case and agreed to work together to clarify the facts and compile a list of witnesses in order to reduce the time of the trial.
Prosecutor Haris Karaolidou noted that the successful consideration of the two key charges depended on the testimony of a witness who was outside Cyprus. The witness expressed his willingness to testify remotely via video link, but the final decision would be made after the technical conditions had been agreed.
The next hearing is scheduled for January 13, 2025. If the witness testifies, the trial will continue without changes. Otherwise, some charges may be dropped, which will be a serious challenge for the prosecution.
The “golden passport” program, which allowed foreign investors to obtain Cypriot citizenship in exchange for investment, was shut down after numerous irregularities were exposed. An Al Jazeera investigation in 2020 found cases where citizenship was granted in violation of the law . The scandal undermined confidence in Cyprus’ political and financial systems, leading to the program’s demise and legal proceedings.
The trial of the “golden passports” remains one of the most resonant events in Cyprus. It is intended not only to provide a legal assessment of the actions of the participants in the program, but also to demonstrate a desire for transparency and restoration of trust on the part of the international community.
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