Former justice minister Nikos Papaioannou dies at 79

Nikos Papaioannou, a prominent lawyer and politician, has passed away at the age of 79. Born in Larnaca in 1947, he studied law at the University of Athens and began practicing law in 1973. Throughout his public career, he held several key positions in the Republic of Cyprus. He served as a member of the Cyprus Ports Authority board from 1982 to 1988 and as president of the Town Planning Board from 1989 to 1990. On May 4, 1990, he was appointed Minister of Justice under the government of George Vassiliou, a role he held until February 27, 1993. Later, he served as the president of the Cyprus Radio Television Authority between 2004 and 2010. The AKEL party released an official statement expressing condolences and honoring his career as a conscientious and democratic legal professional.