In the investigation launched by the Anti-Corruption Authority into the complaints of Makarios Drousiotis against the former President, Nikos Anastasiadis, in the book “Mafia State” a publication of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), a of the largest investigative journalism organizations in the world. A fact which keeps Cyprus at the center of international public opinion regarding corruption cases.
The said investigative journalism platform was mostly mentioned in the golden passports program and in particular in granting them to members of the royal family of Saudi Arabia.
“A team of investigators will examine allegations of corruption against former President Nikos Anastasiadis, described in the book entitled “Mafia State” by Makarios Drousiotis, a Cypriot investigative journalist and writer,” the publication originally stated.
The publication mentions the issues that will be investigated and concern, among others, the Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev and what happened in Cyprus after the latter's divorce.
It is also pointed out that the author of the book accused Anastasiadis of appropriated the lion's share of the €500,000 donation to his party from a Greek shipowner, noting that the money came from Greek banker Andreas Vgenopoulos shortly before the 2008 presidential election.
Reference is also made to the journalist's allegation of espionage against him, with the former President denying the accusations.
It is also noted that the investigation was undertaken by Australian Gabrielle McIntyre, an expert in International Criminal Law, as the head of the investigation team. , which is supported by three Cypriot lawyers: Orestis Nikitas, Charilaos M. Chrysanthou and Andreas A. Efthymiou.
It refers to statements by Haris Pogiatzis, who chairs the Independent Anti-Corruption Authority and who said in an interview in December that the panel would study the panel's findings before referring the case to the Attorney General, who has the final say in initiating criminal proceedings.
The publication also refers to a written statement by the former President of the Republic, who welcomed McIntyre's appointment, as well as “the initiation of an investigation into the false and baseless allegations and the reproduction of fiction that I am involved in corrupt practices.”
“Anastasiadis, through the lawyers, also threatened legal action unless the book was withdrawn, stressing that the decision was not intended to “intimidate” Drousiotis, who served as his adviser from March 2013 to October 2014,” the publication noted. .
Next, the journalistic organization underlines that Drousiotis is not the only one who has linked Anastasiadis to possible corruption cases and refers to the 2019 OCCRP investigation..
