Alpha News

Odysseus Michaelides Condemns Syliouri-Giovani Acquittal as a 'Preordained Fiasco'

Published February 18, 2026, 09:27

Odysseus Michaelides, former Attorney General and head of the ALMA Movement, characterized the acquittal of Syliouri and Giovani as a 'preordained fiasco,' arguing that it is an attempt to cover up political responsibilities. He accused the Legal Service of presenting a case with 'substantial investigative gaps,' using a former Minister of Interior who defended the legality of the citizenship by investment scheme as a prosecution witness. According to Mr. Michaelides, the Legal Service sought to 'whitewash' the decisions of the Council of Ministers in this way. Furthermore, Michaelides criticized the Legal Service for failing to present key witnesses from the Ministry of Finance and for dismissing the Al Jazeera video as a 'fantasy,' ignoring the findings of the Audit Office regarding the irregularities in the citizenship scheme. Mr. Michaelides specifically accused Nikos Anastasiades and his 'political children' in the Legal Service of strategically choosing to bury the scandal, while arguing that the Audit Office had already identified the irregularities as early as 2020. In summary, Mr. Michaelides' criticism focuses on the belief that the decision was the result of political motives and not justice, as well as the lack of a genuine investigation and conviction of those responsible for the 'citizenship-for-investment' scandal.