Cyprus government withdraws police protection for former officials

The Cypriot Ministry of Justice, led by Costas Fytiris, has officially terminated police protection for several former high-ranking officials following a risk assessment. The officials affected include former House Presidents Marios Garoyian, Demetris Syllouris, and Yiannakis Omirou, each of whom previously had two assigned police officers. Additionally, protection has been removed for former First Ladies Androulla Vassiliou and Elsie Christofia, who were each assigned one officer. These eight officers, who largely served as driver-escorts, have been reassigned to new duties effective this coming Wednesday.

Furthermore, the ministry announced that the security detail for former President Nicos Anastasiades will be reduced from 12 to six officers starting in January. This reduction will be accompanied by the installation and activation of an electronic surveillance system at his residence. The Ministry of Justice maintains that these adjustments are based exclusively on objective risk assessments and are unrelated to political factors. The status of the two-person security detail for former Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis remains uncertain, as his risk assessment is still pending.