Newsroom
The Council of Ministers, during its meeting the day before yesterday, approved six proposals for the deprivation of Cypriot citizenship from 28 persons who had been naturalized under the Cyprus Investment Program. Yesterday's decisions are added to another 35 decisions taken by the Council of Ministers of the Christodoulides Government since assuming the government of the country in March 2023. The 41 decisions for the deprivation of Cypriot citizenship concern a total of 150 persons, namely 41 investors and 109 members of their families. In addition, during the same period, the Council of Ministers decided to issue a Decree of Deprivation of Citizenship for 69 persons, for whom the initial decision had been taken during the period 2021-2023. Furthermore, the forfeiture process was completed for 15 persons, namely five investors and ten members of their families.
It is noted that, since 2021, when the Cyprus Investment Program was terminated, it was decided to deprive a total of 360 persons of Cypriot citizenship, corresponding to 101 investors and 259 dependent members of their families. For 112 of the 360 persons, the process has been completed and their documents have been cancelled.
The process of revoking the naturalization of persons who obtained Cypriot citizenship through the Cyprus Investment Program is part of the government's broader strategy, which aims to enhance transparency, combat corruption, and restore the reputation of the Republic of Cyprus internationally.
In this context, the government, in collaboration with the Legal Service of the Republic, is completing the latest changes to the legislation on the Population Register, with the aim of harmonizing it with the recommendations of the European Commission. This ensures that there will be no room in the future for the reinstatement of practices that in the past have damaged the international image of the Republic of Cyprus. This is an important reform that enhances transparency, restores the credibility of the country, and sends a clear message that Cyprus is moving forward with modern European principles and values.
