Cyprus Citizenship Trial Opens Over Passports Granted to Foreign Investors

The trial in Cyprus's high-profile citizenship case opened on Monday at the Nicosia Permanent Criminal Court, with the submission of exhibits. Among the defendants is Marios Demetriades, who served as Minister of Transport under former President Nicos Anastasiades.

The case concerns Cyprus's investment-based citizenship programme and the procedures for approving passports for foreign investors.

Key facts

• Trial started: Monday at the Nicosia Permanent Criminal Court, Nicosia
• Defendants: 10 in total — eight individuals and two legal entities
• Named defendants: former Transport Minister Marios Demetriades, his father Andreas Demetriades, Dimitris Demetriades, George Demetriades, Eleni Symillides, Jing Wang, Josef Friedrich Santin and Vasiliki Georgiou Santin
• Companies charged: Andreas Demetriades & Co LLC and Delsk (Cyprus) Business Services Ltd.
• Next hearing: Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

What is the case about?

The proceedings relate to Cyprus's investment-based citizenship programme and the way passports were approved for foreign investors. The first exhibits submitted mainly comprise documents concerning the naturalisation of individuals from Cambodia and China who had obtained Cypriot passports.

The charges include corruption, bribery, influence peddling and conspiracy to defraud. The defendants also face charges relating to VAT offences and money laundering.

What happened at the first hearing?

The first prosecution witness, a police officer identified as A.A. from the Criminal Investigation Department at Police Headquarters, adopted her written statement and presented a series of documents as exhibits to the court.

Defence lawyer Elias Stephanou told the court he intended to object to certain exhibits. Those objections are expected to be raised at upcoming hearings.

What this means for travellers

The case concerns how Cyprus granted citizenship and passports to foreign investors under its investment-based citizenship programme. The source does not state any changes to current passport or citizenship rules, and no new requirements for travellers or applicants are announced in connection with the trial.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the court.

The next hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.