Zero tolerance for anyone involved in corruption cases

Statement by Eleni Mavrou, AKEL Political Bureau member

 

10 August 2021, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

Yesterday’s reports by the Al Jazeera news agency and OCCRP (Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project) has once again highlighted an issue that has been plaguing Cyprus for some time now – institutional corruption and interwoven interests/entanglement.

Questions about the references to the involvement of government Ministers in the issuance of a passport to a Russian wanted by Interpol can’t be answered by terse and vague denials.

The references to the irregular procedure of granting the citizenship of the Republic of Cyprus to the family circle of President Anastasiades’ Saudi tycoon friend are not answered with evasions that have convinced no one.

Corruption – which has risen sharply during the current government – is damaging the economy and pushes away serious investors from investing in Cyprus. It is undermining institutions, democracy and equality before the law. It is no coincidence that 68% of Cypriots consider that our country’s government is dependent on private interests. However, none of this appears to concern those in power because, quite simply, the Anastasiades government itself is part of the problem itself.

AKEL from the very first moment sent out a message of zero tolerance for anyone involved in corruption cases. We once again reiterate that:

– The government must give convincing and clear answers with regards all the accusations levelled against it.

– It is incumbent on the Attorney General to thoroughly investigate the new allegations and lead those involved to be held to account and punishment.

The “golden passports” issue will be over when the name of our country is cleared. It will end when we convince, both inside and outside Cyprus, that an end has come to the feast of greed, non-transparency and interwoven interests/entanglement