Less than 48 hours after a Nicosia criminal court cleared former parliamentary speaker Demetris Syllouris and ex-MP Christakis Giovani of graft charges tied to Cyprus’ defunct citizenship-by-investment (CBI) scheme, the attorney-general’s office has lodged an appeal. Announcing the move on 18 February, officials argued that the 170-page judgment contained “serious errors in the evaluation of evidence” that warrant review by the Court of Appeal.(news.cyprus-property-buyers.com)
The original trial focused on secretly recorded footage broadcast by Al Jazeera in 2020, in which the two politicians appeared willing to help a fictitious Chinese investor with a criminal record obtain a Cypriot passport. The programme’s subsequent collapse rattled the island’s property market and prompted Brussels to launch infringement proceedings over inadequate due diligence.
Although the court found prosecutors failed to prove intent beyond reasonable doubt, legal analysts say the swift appeal shows the government is keen to reassure Brussels and prospective investors that it is cleaning up the CBI legacy. A successful appeal could reopen the door to criminal liability for officials and service providers who processed more than 7,000 passports between 2007 and 2020.
![State Legal Service appeals acquittals in high-profile ‘Golden Passport’ corruption trial]()
For relocation advisers, the case is more than a courtroom drama. Several clients who obtained passports legitimately under the old rules have reported slower renewal times for ID cards and delays registering property titles, as civil servants apply extra scrutiny amid the political fallout. Employers should advise dual-citizen staff to carry supplementary documentation—such as original naturalisation certificates—when travelling, until the legal dust settles.
If questions arise over entry formalities, residence permits or document legalisation, VisaHQ’s Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) offers up-to-date guidance and filing assistance, streamlining everything from short-stay visas to permanent-residence applications for individuals and corporate transferees alike.
The appeal hearing is expected later this year. In the meantime, Cyprus continues to promote alternative residence-by-investment routes, notably the fast-track permanent-residence permit that requires a €300,000 real-estate purchase but does not confer citizenship.
The original trial focused on secretly recorded footage broadcast by Al Jazeera in 2020, in which the two politicians appeared willing to help a fictitious Chinese investor with a criminal record obtain a Cypriot passport. The programme’s subsequent collapse rattled the island’s property market and prompted Brussels to launch infringement proceedings over inadequate due diligence.
Although the court found prosecutors failed to prove intent beyond reasonable doubt, legal analysts say the swift appeal shows the government is keen to reassure Brussels and prospective investors that it is cleaning up the CBI legacy. A successful appeal could reopen the door to criminal liability for officials and service providers who processed more than 7,000 passports between 2007 and 2020.
For relocation advisers, the case is more than a courtroom drama. Several clients who obtained passports legitimately under the old rules have reported slower renewal times for ID cards and delays registering property titles, as civil servants apply extra scrutiny amid the political fallout. Employers should advise dual-citizen staff to carry supplementary documentation—such as original naturalisation certificates—when travelling, until the legal dust settles.
If questions arise over entry formalities, residence permits or document legalisation, VisaHQ’s Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) offers up-to-date guidance and filing assistance, streamlining everything from short-stay visas to permanent-residence applications for individuals and corporate transferees alike.
The appeal hearing is expected later this year. In the meantime, Cyprus continues to promote alternative residence-by-investment routes, notably the fast-track permanent-residence permit that requires a €300,000 real-estate purchase but does not confer citizenship.
