Cyprus watchdog flags possible abuse of power by ex-president

The allegations encompass a range of potential violations, including irregularities in campaign financing and alleged efforts to influence investigations into businessmen who were bankrolling political parties. The watchdog also cited alleged institutional interference in matters that affected Anastasiades' own interests.

Furthermore, the investigation uncovered claims of Anastasiades using his political influence prior to his election to advance citizenship applications linked to clients of his law firm, notably wealthy Russian businessmen. Anastasiades, who served as president between 2013 and 2023, has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

During Anastasiades' presidency, thousands of wealthy investors obtained Cypriot passports through an investment-for-citizenship program, which was eventually discontinued in 2020 following revelations of inadequate oversight. The Independent Anti-Corruption Authority based its assessment on a 'balance of probabilities' rather than the criminal standard of proof, emphasizing that the findings do not constitute criminal convictions and all individuals are presumed innocent.

This two-year investigation is seen as a significant test of Cyprus' commitment to scrutinizing alleged misconduct at the highest levels of government. The authority's probe was initiated following allegations by former Anastasiades aide Makarios Drousiotis, an investigative journalist, who claimed in his book 'Mafia State' that a system had developed where political power, business interests, legal professionals, and state institutions became closely intertwined, thereby undermining accountability and the rule of law.