The Nikolatos Findings must be made public
The passports scandal bears the stamp of Anastasiades-DISY
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 16th April 2021, Nicosia
The interim Findings of the inquiry looking into the government’s investment for citizenship program headed by former Supreme Court judge Myron Nikolatos must be made public so that it can be studied, further conclusions drawn, but also for the Inquiry Committee itself and its work to be judged.
What is certain is that the scandal of all scandals that has discredited our country around the world bears the stamp of the Anastasiades-DISY government. Nikos Anastasiades and DISY, having assumed power in 2013, totally weakened the criteria and loosened scrutiny so that the granting of citizenships could be intensified. More than 6,500 passports were issued by the DISY Government, while a further 1,000 are being examined. This is precisely the reason why an EU procedure has been initiated against the Republic of Cyprus.
The fact that Nikos Anastasiades’ family businesses and personal environment, as well as law firms linked to other members of the government, are involved in ‘golden’ passports is a scandalous aspect of the ‘golden’ passports scheme. The family trips of Nikos Anastasiades with the Saudi tycoon’s jet to the Seychelles and the irregular granting of citizenships for the whole of the Saudi Arabian tycoon’s family are shaming the country and the institution itself. The irregular granting of passports to the partners of the President’s son-in-law in the Ayia Napa marina holding company management are a continuation of the merry-go-round of entanglement/interwoven interests and conflict of interest. After all, investigations and inquiry committees aren’t needed for all these. The assumption of responsibility by the government ruling forces is demanded, which of course has still not been demonstrated.
