Mayor of Dromolaxia-Meneou appears in court over private criminal prosecution

On November 13, 2026, the mayor of Dromolaxia-Meneou, Kypros Andronikou, appeared before the Larnaca District Court to face a private criminal case filed by the deputy mayor, Yiannos Ioannou. The litigation stems from allegations that the mayor falsely presented his personal opinions as the official position of the municipality.

During the hearing, defense lawyer Yiannis Polychronis argued that the indictment fails to establish a criminal offense and seeks to criminalize freedom of expression. He confirmed that a formal request was submitted to the attorney-general on October 21, 2026, seeking to suspend the prosecution. Conversely, prosecution lawyer Alexandros Clerides acknowledged the importance of freedom of speech but maintained that the mayor used the municipality's official page with the specific intent to undermine the deputy mayor's credibility and image. Mr. Clerides announced his intention to submit his own evidence to the attorney-general regarding the matter.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for December 11, 2026. The legal proceedings remain contingent upon the decision of the attorney-general, who is currently considering the request to intervene and potentially suspend the case.