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In a move that adds a new twist to a case already dominating Cyprus’ political conversation, DISY MP Nikos Sykas announced on Saturday that he is voluntarily waiving his parliamentary immunity, saying he wants the investigation into allegations of violence to move forward “freely and without delay.”
In a written statement released in the afternoon, Sykas said he had made his position clear from the very beginning. Despite the fact that the original complaint has since been withdrawn, he stressed that he is formally giving up the protections that come with his role as a lawmaker. His aim, he said, is to ensure that all legal and constitutional procedures continue without obstruction.
The announcement comes just days before a scheduled Supreme Court hearing on Monday, January 12, following a request already submitted by the Legal Service seeking the lifting of his immunity.
A case that spiraled quickly
The affair unfolded rapidly earlier this month, after a woman accused Sykas of assault during a holiday trip abroad. Although the alleged incident did not take place in Cyprus, the accusation immediately sparked legal and political reactions back home, raising complex questions about jurisdiction and the scope of parliamentary immunity.
What began as a personal complaint soon escalated into a broader institutional issue. Police began exploring the legal pathways for lifting immunity, while the Legal Service examined how the case could proceed. The involvement of senior officials, including the Speaker of the House and DISY leader Annita Dimitriou, emphasized just how sensitive the matter had become.
Political pressure intensified further when Dimitriou publicly urged Sykas to surrender his immunity and announced his removal from the party’s candidate list. Emphasizing a stance of “zero tolerance” toward any allegation of violence against women, the party leadership moved swiftly. Sykas, meanwhile, strongly denied the accusation, cautioning against what he described as a “trial by public opinion.”
Complaint withdrawn, investigation continues
Only days later, judicial sources confirmed that the complainant had withdrawn her complaint, which related to an alleged incident in Athens. Authorities were quick to clarify, however, that this did not bring the matter to an end.
Prosecutors and police stressed that in cases involving alleged violence, particularly gender-based violence, the state has a responsibility to pursue the facts, regardless of whether a complaint is later withdrawn. This approach, they noted, is consistent with Cyprus’ obligations under the Istanbul Convention.
Investigators have continued gathering evidence, including medical documentation already submitted, while the Legal Service has pressed ahead with formal procedures related to lifting parliamentary immunity.
“The justice of truth”
Against this backdrop, Sykas’ decision to waive immunity appears intended to remove any remaining procedural barriers. In his statement, he said he “unequivocally condemns every form of gender-based violence” and called on the public to allow the judicial process to run its course.
“To the people who have placed their trust in me, and to society as a whole, there is only one demand,” he wrote. “The justice of truth.”
