Private criminal proceedings continue 21 years after the death of Thanasis Nicolaou

On September 29, 2026, the family of Thanasis Nicolaou marked 21 years since his death while continuing private criminal proceedings against five individuals. The 26-year-old was found dead under the Alassa bridge on September 29, 2005, with authorities initially ruling the case a suicide. Following years of legal battles, including an exhumation and three inquests, a 2024 inquiry concluded that Nicolaou died of strangulation as a result of criminal activity.

Despite findings from independent investigators confirming foul play, the Legal Service of Cyprus declined to initiate criminal charges. This decision prompted the victim’s family to file private criminal prosecutions against forensic pathologist Panikos Stavrianos, former Limassol Police Chief Andreas Iatropoulos, and former officers Nikos Sofokleous, Christakis Nathanael, and a former head of the Platres police station cluster. The ongoing court process seeks accountability for the alleged mishandling of the investigation.