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The Supreme Constitutional Court has dismissed an appeal by a foreign national challenging the rejection of their Cypriot citizenship application. The ruling affirms that information suggesting involvement in illegal activities—regardless of formal charges—can undermine the legal requirement of "good character" for naturalization.
The case centered on an application denied under Article 111 of the Civil Registry Law. The court emphasized that granting citizenship falls under the Interior Minister’s discretion and is a sovereign right of the Republic. It also ruled that prior criminal convictions, even if expunged, may be considered in evaluating an applicant’s character.
Supporting the Attorney General’s stance, the court stated that authorities are not obligated to justify rejections if credible information raises concerns. "Any doubt works in favor of the Republic," the ruling noted. Additionally, applicants are not entitled to a hearing, as naturalization decisions are administrative rather than disciplinary.
This decision reinforces the government's authority to reject citizenship applications based on security concerns, even without formal charges or hearings.
