Neither does the Inquiry Committee believe the Anastasiades-DISY government’s claims on the golden passports scandal
Statement by AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Stefanos Stefanou
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 6th May 2021, Nicosia
Besides the people, the Committee of Inquiry also doesn’t believe the Anastasiades-DISY government’s claims surrounding the golden passport scandal.
As everyone knows, the Attorney General’s Office, twice – in 2015 and 2016 – had given an opinion on the irregular practices in the passport scheme. Nikos Anastasiades and his Ministers claim they were never informed about these opinions, and in doing so revealing with their claim how much they underestimate people’s intelligence. The truth is quite simple and everyone knows it: The Anastasiades-DISY government concealed and disregarded the opinions and warnings issued by the EU so that it could continue to sell passports en masse with a profit and benefit worth many millions of euros.
N.Anastasiades himself and the DISY Government’s Ministers are personally involved in the golden passports case. Hundreds of applications were submitted from law firms associated with them which they themselves subsequently approved. They issued Cypriot passports illegally and irregularly to enrich their family businesses.
From the Ayia Napa marina to the Seychelles, from the Saudi Arabian tycoon friend of N. Anastasiades to the president’s son-in-law, from the Council of Ministers to the Nikos Anastasiades’ law firm, entanglement/interwoven interests, non-transparency and conflict of interest are all glaring. In a state governed by the rule of law, there would have been resignations and governments would have fallen.
The DISY government, however, has neither political integrity, nor has it ever taken on any responsibility. It always shifts responsibilities on others, even though our country is being discredited and denounced internationally.
