Retrial for Georgios Christodoulou Zavrantonas enters final stage

The retrial of Georgios Christodoulou Zavrantonas, accused of possessing 15 kilograms of cocaine with intent to supply, has reached its final stage at the Nicosia Criminal Court. On Monday, the defense concluded its case after hearing testimony from two witnesses: lawyer Viktoras Akamas and telecommunications official Giannis Kofteros. Following the court's earlier ruling that a prima facie case exists, the defense announced that Zavrantonas has chosen to exercise his right to remain silent, reversing an earlier plan to make an unsworn statement. The court subsequently set November 17, 2026, as the date for closing arguments from both the prosecution and the defense.

This case stems from a January 2019 anti-drug operation in Lakatamia. While Giannis Andreou and Aristos Kyprianou were convicted in 2019, Andreou later named Zavrantonas as the mastermind. Zavrantonas was originally sentenced to 22 years in prison in December 2022, but the Court of Appeal overturned this verdict in May 2026 due to an error in the trial court's composition, ordering this retrial. Disagreements emerged during the recent hearing regarding the funding of Andreou’s previous legal defense, with the prosecution suggesting the payments originated from Zavrantonas’ side, a claim the defense witness disputed.