Journalist Makarios Drousiotis questioned by police over his book 'Kratos Mafia

On August 27, 2026, investigative journalist Makarios Drousiotis was summoned to the police headquarters in Cyprus for interrogation regarding a complaint filed by a member of the Cyprus Intelligence Service (KYP). The criminal investigation concerns alleged violations of the KYP laws and personal data protection regulations related to his book, 'Kratos Mafia'.

During the questioning, Drousiotis was asked to identify who knew the book's contents before publication, how he obtained his information, and the specific roles of the book's editor and designer. Furthermore, investigators asked him to comment on the covers of his book's two editions and requested to know whether he had obtained official permission from any state authority to publish the work. Drousiotis invoked his right to silence during the session, describing the event as an unprecedented use of national security legislation as a weapon against journalism.

Police spokesperson Byron Byronos confirmed that the testimony was taken as part of an ongoing investigation into potential privacy breaches. Drousiotis has publicly criticized the current administration and President Nikos Christodoulides, claiming the complaint serves to intimidate independent reporting.