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The Legal Service is taking aim at the controversial acquittal of former House Speaker Dimitris Syllouris and ex-MP Christakis Tziovanis, announcing it will appeal the decision of the Nicosia Criminal Court. The statement came at a fiery press conference led by Polina Evthyvoulou, who insisted she was speaking not just as head of communications but as a prosecutor fighting for accountability.
Evthyvoulou, flanked by senior attorneys Andreas Aristides and Christia Kythreotou, stressed that while court decisions are respected, they are not beyond critique. “Judicial errors have been identified that need to be argued before the Court of Appeal,” she said, noting the acquitted defendants would also have a chance to present their side.
The first-instance trial, held by the Permanent Criminal Court of Nicosia, ended in acquittal for all charges, though one judge, Maria Loizou, disagreed with the majority on a charge of influence peddling. Prosecutors argued the evidence was limited, particularly because a key video could not be used in court, it was deemed illegally obtained, and witnesses faced obstacles, including threats, health issues, or unwillingness to testify.
Evthyvoulou recounted the uphill battle to secure testimony. One witness moved abroad, later cited health problems, and ultimately blocked contact. Another, a journalist, withdrew despite multiple outreach attempts. “There was no choice,” she said bluntly, emphasizing that every available avenue had been exhausted.
The prosecution also highlighted the seriousness of the influence-peddling charges, calling them a stark example of how abuse of power can undermine impartial governance.
Speaking sharply, Evthyvoulou defended the work of the Legal Service against critics, saying attacks on civil servants risk weakening the justice system. “We are the frontline of democracy,” she said. “Every day, we handle hundreds of cases. We’ve faced bomb threats and arson attacks, yet we continue because the public depends on it. Criticism is one thing, but dismantling civil servants is dangerous.”
The press conference also addressed threats to witnesses, which Evthyvoulou said are not uncommon. Cyprus has a witness protection system, but cooperation depends on the witness, their safety concerns, and the information they can provide.
Financial crimes, she reminded, are among the hardest to prove, requiring painstaking work that often plays out over months or years. “We see convictions every day of officials and community leaders for financial crimes,” she said. “This is serious work, and it cannot be done lightly.”
The appeal now moves the case to the Court of Appeal, setting the stage for another round in one of Cyprus’ most closely watched political and financial crime trials in recent years.
