The Council of Ministers decided on Thursday to appoint a five-member team of independent criminal investigators, who will take on the investigation into the findings of the Independent Anti-Corruption Authority.
The team is made up of Vassilios Skouris, professor emeritus of public law at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and former President of the Court of Justice of the European Union, who will head the group; Christos Mylonopoulos, professor emeritus of criminal law at the University of Athens; Sotiris Liasidis, a former judge; Nikolas Koursaris, a lawyer specialising in criminal proceedings and vice-president of a committee at the Nicosia Bar Association; and Demetris Tsolakidis, a criminal lawyer and member of the Criminal Justice Committee and the Criminal Law Subcommittee of the Cyprus Bar Association.
Announcing the decision after the Council of Ministers meeting, chaired by President Nicos Christodoulides, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said the appointments were made under Article 4(2) of the Criminal Procedure Law.
He said the decision had been taken with respect for the constitution, the rule of law and the powers of independent institutions, with the aim of ensuring a full, objective and impartial investigation into the matters recorded in the Authority's report.
The investigators' term will run for six months, with the possibility of extension if a written and reasoned request is submitted to the Council of Ministers.
The Council of Ministers also decided to provide the team with the necessary secretarial staff, appropriately equipped office space and the required equipment, so the investigators can carry out their work without hindrance.
Letymbiotis said the decision reflects the government's commitment to transparency, accountability and strengthening public trust in institutions, while also underlining respect for the independence of the judiciary, for due process, and for the presumption of innocence.
