Lawyer pushes to toss key charge in 'golden passport' trial

A last-minute legal twist has emerged in the high-profile trial over Cyprus’s controversial naturalization program, as a defense lawyer raised concerns that one of the charges may involve abuse of power.

During proceedings on Monday, Dimitris Syllouris’s lawyer, Chris Triantafyllides, asked the Criminal Court to consider dismissing the first charge, arguing it was signed by the Assistant Attorney General, who had also participated in the Cabinet decision related to the naturalization in question. If accepted, this could shorten the trial’s final arguments.

The court, however, expressed caution. It noted that the case has largely been examined, and only the final speeches from the prosecution and defense remain. Judges questioned whether separating one charge at this stage would be appropriate or risk delaying the conclusion.

Prosecutors countered that the defense had been aware of the evidence from the start and should have raised this concern earlier. “This is not a new issue,” Republic lawyer Haris Karaolidou said, noting that the prosecution had already completed cross-examinations and planned no further actions.

The court has scheduled a hearing on the matter for Thursday, October 16, at 9 a.m. Meanwhile, the proceedings face additional logistical issues: one defendant, Christakis Tziovannis, will miss the hearing due to a medical procedure but will stay in contact with his lawyer by phone.

The trial, which has drawn intense public attention, focuses on allegations of irregularities in the granting of Cypriot citizenship under the naturalization program, and any ruling on the abuse-of-power claim could significantly impact the case’s conclusion.