Unlike what happens in Cyprus, child sex offenders in Greece, as well as in other European countries, cannot always hide behind appeals to personal-data protection, as their names and photographs may be published under specific conditions. The purpose of such publication is twofold: protecting children and society at large, and identifying any additional victims.
The most recent publication of a child sex offender's details by the Hellenic Police took place on 28 August 2026 and concerned a 50-year-old gymnastics coach who, because of his profession, was in regular contact with children.
The Hellenic Police example
The statement issued by the Hellenic Police regarding the gymnastics coach is reproduced here because of its particular significance:
"Following an order by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Kefalonia, which was ratified by the Court of Appeal Prosecutor's Office of Patras, the identity details, photographs and criminal charges brought against a Greek national male who was arrested on 3 July 2026 by officers of the Argostoli Crime Investigation Department are being made public. The individual is PARISIS KOULOUMBIS, son of Dimitrios and Evangelia, born on 13 February 1976 in Argostoli, Kefalonia.
Criminal proceedings have been initiated against him for the offences of rape, repeatedly committed and attempted, involving a minor victim on multiple occasions, and for the repeated completed and attempted abuse of minors over the age of 14, with the aggravating circumstance that the acts were committed by a gymnastics coach, a person entrusted with teaching minors. (...)
This publication, according to the relevant prosecutorial order, aims to assist in the investigation, detection and prosecution of felonies and misdemeanours under Chapter Nineteen of the Criminal Code concerning offences against sexual freedom. The publication is deemed appropriate for this purpose and for preventing threats to public security related to the offences under investigation, while no less intrusive measure for fundamental rights is considered sufficient in this case.
Citizens are requested to contact the Argostoli Crime Investigation Department on telephone numbers 26710-28404, 26710-27841 and 26710-24441 with any relevant information. Anonymity and confidentiality of communications are guaranteed.
It should be noted that this publication will remain valid for three months from the execution of the prosecutorial order, from 28 August 2026 until 28 November 2026. Beyond this period, retention and/or reproduction of the published information is prohibited and contrary to law."
Similar cases in Cyprus, but...
There have been several comparable cases in Cyprus, yet no similar disclosure practice has been followed.
I recall in particular the conviction, two years ago, of a 59-year-old chemistry teacher who was found guilty and sentenced to four-and-a-half years' imprisonment for the sexual abuse of nine schoolgirls in Limassol.
The offences were committed in 2022, when the victims were under the age of 15 and, indeed, during classroom lessons.
Thousands of students passed through that teacher's classroom.
Are we to believe that his victims were limited to nine girls and only during 2022? What happened in previous years? Were there no other children who may also have fallen victim to his actions?
Had the police published his name and photograph, as the Greek police did in the corresponding case, would there not have been a possibility of identifying additional victims?
Let the authorities explain
The question is therefore a reasonable one:
Why is the option of publishing the identities of child sex offenders not being utilised in Cyprus in order to protect other children and identify possible additional victims, as is done in Greece?
The Commissioner for Personal Data Protection, Maria Christofidou, should therefore clarify the issue.
She should explain whether the existing legal framework permits, under specific conditions, the publication of the details of child sex offenders, particularly for the purpose of identifying other potential victims, as occurs in Greece.
And if it does permit it, then the Law Office and the Police should explain why this possibility is not being utilised.
Time for a serious debate
At long last, a serious discussion should take place in the House of Representatives on this issue and, more broadly, on the protection of personal data, which, unfortunately, has become a refuge for every fraudster, rogue, murderer and child sex offender.
