Cabinet extends term of National Guard Deputy Chief and announces successor

During a session held on August 29, 2026, at the presidential residence in Troodos, the Cypriot Council of Ministers officially decided to extend the term of Lieutenant General Neophytos Pachoulidis, the Deputy Chief of the National Guard, until December 31, 2026.

In addition to this extension, the government announced the appointment of Major General Charis Georgiou as the new Deputy Chief of the National Guard. This appointment is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. Consequently, Pachoulidis will continue to fulfill his duties for the remainder of the current calendar year, at which point he will be succeeded by Georgiou.

The decision serves as a transition plan for the senior leadership of the National Guard, ensuring continuity in the role through the end of 2026. No further changes to the command structure or additional details regarding the background of this transition were disclosed by the government sources following the meeting.