Cyprus Times

Clerides on Sylouris-Giovannis: Decision Was Expected

Published February 18, 2026, 12:07
Clerides on Sylouris-Giovannis: Decision Was Expected

Lawyer Christos Clerides commented on the recent acquittal of Dimitris Sylouris and Christakis Giovanis in the “golden passports” case, describing the decision as “expected.” He stressed that the case should not have been referred to court due to the lack of sufficient evidence, especially after the decision not to use the Al Jazeera video as evidence. Mr. Clerides expressed the opinion that the trial was unduly delayed, pointing out that it should have been completed within a year to avoid negative repercussions on public opinion. He also noted that there have been no significant convictions in cases related to the citizenship-by-investment program, which may mean many things. Referring to the Nikolaou report, Mr. Clerides emphasized that it identified many cases that should be investigated and referred to justice, and that the cycle of investigations has not yet been completed. He stressed the need for transparency and accountability in the entire process of granting citizenships. Mr. Clerides reiterated his view that the case should have been referred to justice only if there was sufficient evidence to prove the guilt of the accused beyond any reasonable doubt.