The Nicosia Criminal Court has cleared former House Speaker Demetris Syllouris and businessman Christakis Tziovanis. They faced charges related to the island's old citizenship program. The court announced its decision on Tuesday. This case was very public.
The acquittal is a big change. It comes after a report in 2020. Syllouris and Tziovanis were accused of trading influence. They were also accused of defrauding the state. However, the court said the prosecution did not prove these charges.
The court noted that there was not enough proof of corruption. Key witnesses were missing. Important evidence was not shown to the court. This showed the high standard of proof needed. This is especially true for high-ranking officials.
The court could not find clear evidence of illegal actions. It was hard to understand why an investor would choose a specific firm. Prosecutors could not prove how citizenship applications were approved. They also did not show that the accused put unfair pressure on anyone. Asking about an application's status is not wrong. The original video was not allowed as evidence.
Most judges voted for acquittal. One judge disagreed on one charge. This shows how complex the evidence was.
Syllouris said he is relieved. He defended his honesty. He said he fought corruption during his career. He said he does not have a lot of wealth. He plans to stay involved in politics. He will support legal principles.
This verdict ends a long legal fight. It brings closure to the citizenship program issue. The case affected Cyprus's politics and its reputation.