Government appoints independent criminal investigators for the 'Mafia State' case

The Council of Ministers of Cyprus has appointed a five-member team of independent criminal investigators to examine findings from the Independent Authority Against Corruption regarding the 'Mafia State' case. The team is led by Vasilios Skouris, a former President of the Court of Justice of the European Union, who has stated his intention to serve without remuneration. Other members include Christos Mylonopoulos, Sotiris Liasidis, Nikolas Koursaris, and Dimitris Tsolakidis. Government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis stated that the appointment is for an initial period of up to six months, with the possibility of extension upon a justified written request. While questions regarding potential conflicts of interest were raised concerning one member, government officials confirmed that safeguards have been implemented to ensure impartiality, including the exclusion of specific members from sensitive parts of the investigation. The investigators are tasked with reviewing the comprehensive 3,000-page report prepared by the Anti-Corruption Authority to determine if criminal charges are warranted. Per the Constitution, the final decision on whether to proceed with criminal prosecutions remains under the jurisdiction of the Legal Service.